A city church will be able to guide people to its new venue after permission was granted for a 5m tall illuminated cross.

Previously known as the Norwich Family Life Church the building, in Heartsease Lane, was destroyed in February 2006 after it was struck by lightning.

Now known as Soul Church, the new sign is part of an overall £7m project to bring the venue back for Easter 2024.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich City Council approved the illuminated cross on October 16Norwich City Council approved the illuminated cross on October 16 (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

The most recent application, sent to the Norwich City Council on April 18, proposed a "steel cross from the former church building, mounted on exposed building frame and halo lit".

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In addition to the cross, there will also be a "display of two internally illuminated fascia signs and four non-illuminated signs".

The council outlined a number of stipulations in order to give the illuminated sign the go ahead on October 16.

Norwich Evening News: The cross is part of a £7m project bringing the church back to Heartsease LaneThe cross is part of a £7m project bringing the church back to Heartsease Lane (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

It states: "No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to endanger persons using any highway, railway or waterway.

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"The level of illumination, of the cross, shall not exceed 500 cd/m² (candela per square meter) at any time during the hours of darkness.

"No part of the source of the illumination shall at any time be directly visible to users of the adjacent public highway."

Norwich Evening News: Soul Church pastor Jon Norman and his wife ChantelSoul Church pastor Jon Norman and his wife Chantel (Image: Simon Finlay)

The initial proposal for the new church was applied for in 2019 and ground was first broken in October 2021 while the congregation was based in an industrial unit in Mile Cross.

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The new church will include a 1,200-seat auditorium, nursery, community shop, cafe and sensory room.

Norwich Evening News: The illuminated cross is expected to be roughly 5m tallThe illuminated cross is expected to be roughly 5m tall (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

There will also be car parking, with 242 spaces, including 13 for the disabled and 32 cycle parking spaces.

Soul Church has said they hope to create "a bright and welcoming space where everyone can belong".

The church has some high-profile patrons including Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber, TV presenter Jake Humphrey and the Bishop of Norwich Graham James.