A long-standing city centre office block will tumble after plans to demolish it were approved.

Victoria House, the former home of Marsh and Sedgwick, has stood empty in Queens Road since the start of last year with a discussion over demolition plans ongoing since June.

It is thought work will begin by the end of the month after Norwich City Council's planning team voted to approve plans on September 1.

Norwich Evening News: Victoria House from the rearVictoria House from the rear (Image: Newsquest)

Developers Norwich Victoria now have five years to complete the demolition, which is expected to be complete within six months.

Conditions of the approval mean no work will be able to take place until a site meeting between workers and council officials, minutes of the meeting have been produced and a clear timetable of events has been formed.

Norwich Evening News: Plans to demolish Victoria House have been in discussion since JunePlans to demolish Victoria House have been in discussion since June (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Through the years at city site which hosted the Beatles' favourite circus

Before work begins, contractors will also be required to carry out an asbestos survey and ensure the clearance of the site is done in a way that does not disrupt nesting birds, hedgehogs and bats.

Plans have previously courted controversy after Town Close Labour county councillor, Emma Corlett said the nature of the consultation had left those living nearby with "very little say".

Norwich Evening News: The site was formerly home to Pablo Fanque's circus and Norwich Victoria StationThe site was formerly home to Pablo Fanque's circus and Norwich Victoria Station (Image: Denise Bradley)

A number of objectors also criticised the project over its environmental impact claiming the building was in a suitable condition to be reused.

Some had called for it to be used to house charities and community groups who say they will be left homeless by the Anglia Square revamp.

It is believed at least part of the new site would be likely to include office space due to a special planning order introduced after it was found the city centre had lost more than 30pc of its business space since 2013.

More than 1,000 staff had been working in Victoria House before the pandemic struck, with the site formerly home to Norwich Victoria Station and Pablo Fanque's circus.