Norwich's Carrow Bridge House survives demolition attempt

Carrow Bridge House in Carrow Road, close to Norwich City's football stadium, has previously seen a Norfolk County Council attempt to smash it down in order to landscape the area in 2018 fail and it was sold at auction in 2019 for a six-figure sum.

Built in 1920, the building is the city's only surviving bridge house, but its owner - developers Wexham Homes - submitted plans to Norwich City Council to demolish the home and replace it with a new building in January this year.

Prior to the home's sale its former occupant of more than 50 years, pleaded with potential buyers to keep it as it is.

Carrow Bridge House in Carrow Road (Image: Newsquest)

But once again the city council has refused to allow the building to fall.

Rejecting the application, city planning officials said the plans would have resulted in the loss of a heritage asset with "no clear and convincing justification".

They added the plans demonstrated no benefits to knocking the house down while the new home would "fail to contribute the same character and historic association to surrounding heritage assets".

Norwich City Council said losing the building would also cause less than substantial harm to Carrow Bridge, the city wall and its towers.

Reginald Dann, who lived in Carrow Bridge House for more than 50 years (Image: Newsquest)

The city council was supported by a number of public objectors, however one said the "ugly" building should fall.

One neutral commenter said: "The existing building is ugly and derelict so it's a very good idea to develop the site.

"Such a shame to miss an opportunity to design a stunning modern building with basic necessities such as secure parking.

"This proposal is a missed opportunity and typical of the unimaginative uninspiring so-called 'architecture' omnipresent in this country.

"I overlook this plot and there is so much that could be done."