NUA reveals plans to open former Open building in Norwich

The prominent city centre site, which has been left empty since the collapse of a youth charity in March 2020, will officially open to students for the next academic year.

The news comes less than a year after the former banking hall was purchased by NUA as part of plans to shift the focal point of its campus to Bank Plain from the area around St Georges Street.

NUA purchased the building just under a year ago (Image: Jordan Hudson 2016)

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A spokesman for the university said: "While the building is generally in great condition, it has required lots of remedial work [such as minor repairs and decorating] after a period of prolonged closure.

"We aim to have some areas up and running soon for research activity and we will be activating other parts of the building for our students in the next academic year."

The site was most recently used by the Open Youth Trust for a variety of functions, including as a live music venue - but has been vacant since the charity collapsed in 2020.

It is not clear at this stage what access to the site the general public will get, but it is understood that live music and similar events are unlikely to figure in the plans.

The building is set to open to students in the next academic year (Image: Newsquest)

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NUA had been working closely with City Hall on a bid for 'levelling-up' cash from the government which would have financed a major renovation.

But these hopes were quashed when Norwich lost out on the multi-million-pound fund.

"Nonetheless, we remain committed to the vision we have developed," added the spokesman for NUA.

"And we are actively engaging in discussions with partners to establish Bank Plain as the focal point of our university campus and as a welcoming space for the broader community."