New plans show the Anglia Square development will take eight years to finish, meaning the long-running saga will span a total of three decades from conception to completion. 

Developers Weston Homes and site owner Columbia Threadneedle have revealed updated details for the controversial 1,100-home scheme on the shopping centre site. 

It shows the development will take the better part of a decade to be completed, while heritage body calls to reduce the height of the buildings have been ignored. 

Norwich Evening News: Anglia SquareAnglia Square

An updated planning statement said: “The demolition/construction works period remains eight years in length, the works start fourth quarter [September to December] 2023 and complete by the end of the third quarter [July to August] 2031.” 

Plans to redevelop the site go back to 2001, when the site was owned by Quintain Estates. So far, no work has started.

Kelvan Mitchell, the owner of Secondhand Lane, on Magdalen Street, said it was "a bit ridiculous" how long it was taking to get the site redeveloped.

Norwich Evening News: Secondhand LandSecondhand Land (Image: Google)

"All the buildings there are being left to fall down, basically. It's become a bit of an eyesore.

"It wasn't long ago that the cinema had a water leak that came through into the charity shop and the pound shop below.

"The longer it's left it could become more of a danger to the public."

The latest plans also fail to address concerns by Historic England, a government heritage advisor, and the Norwich Society, the city’s civic watchdog, both groups previously called for the plans to be rejected due to the size of the buildings. 

The development includes 14 buildings ranging from one to eight storeys tall. 

Weston Homes had hoped its revised plans - which scrapped proposals for a 20-storey tower included in a previous application which was ultimately rejected - would appease objectors. 

Weston Homes declined to comment when the groups submitted their objections.