A hit city climbing venue could be moving to a huge new location.

Highball Climbing Centre can relocate to Kirkham House, in Whiffler Road, after plans for the disused data centre were approved by Norwich City Council.

The plans were submitted by Mike Surtees, owner of Highball, to transform the Mile Cross site last November.

Norwich Evening News: Kirkham House has been empty since 2020Kirkham House has been empty since 2020 (Image: Google)

The team at Highball launched a petition to help support the application for the new site, which had received just shy of 1,670 by mid-March.

"To all the people who have signed the form, I want to say a massive thank you," said owner Mike Surtees in a video on the Highball website.

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"Some of you put some really lovely comments on the digital form.

"I've seen all the wonderful things that you've been saying about Highball and how excited you are about the new move, so thank you."

Norwich Evening News: Mike Surtees launched a petition to help get the planning application over the lineMike Surtees launched a petition to help get the planning application over the line (Image: Highball Climbing Centre, via Youtube)

Highball Climbing Centre operates from Twickenham Road, in the Union Park industrial estate in Hellesdon, where it opened in 2012.

It remains Norfolk's biggest climbing centre and has hosted several competitions - including the first national climbing competition to be shown live on TV in 2019.

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The new site will be even bigger than the Twickenham Road space, nearly doubling the current centre, and will have space for up to 400 customers at any one time, as well as 35 staff members.

Norwich Evening News: The site will almost double once work has been completedThe site will almost double once work has been completed (Image: Bill Smith)

Part of the application will bring a much bigger car park with up to 50 parking spaces.

While the city council approved the move and transformation of the Kirkham House site, the climbing company has several conditions to adhere to, including installing of electric vehicle charging points and completing the car park before the site can open to the public.

Kirkham House has been empty since 2020 when it stopped being used as a data centre for Aviva.

Norwich Evening News: Highball opened in Twickenham Road in 2012Highball opened in Twickenham Road in 2012 (Image: Denise Bradley)