A section of Norwich's Anglia Square has had to be secured amid concerns for the safety of its shoppers and staff.
Workmen were spotted in a cherry picker boarding up glass panels surrounding Sovereign House's spiral staircase from the base to the top floor.
Before it was vacated in the early 2000s, Sovereign House was home to part of the government's Stationery Office department, which had been relocated from London.
A spokesman for site owners Threadneedle, which hopes to build up to 1,100 homes on the 11.5-acre site, said: "We can confirm that due to the extreme weather conditions at the end of last year, some of the glass panes around the spiral staircase were damaged.
"The staircase has therefore been boarded up for safety reasons, and the boards will remain up until further notice.
"The safety and security of shoppers and those working at Anglia Square is our priority and we work hard to ensure we provide a safe environment."
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