Plans to regenerate Norwich's Nelson Hotel appear stalled

Proposals to demolish Nelson Hotel in Prince of Wales Road and replace it with a larger Premier Inn, student accommodation and new homes were due to be submitted to the council by the end of this month. 

This would allow City Hall to make a decision on the project in February 2025.

The Premier Inn site in Prince of Wales Road (Image: Sonya Duncan)

But the developers behind the scheme, Whitbread, do not seem any step closer to making the formal application. 

Should the firm still intend to begin work in the spring of 2025 as planned, the application must be completed in full ahead of time, with all decisions and consultations carried out within the city council's rules.

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The hospitality giant previously said the ambitious project would create an "improved gateway" to Norwich from the station and "enhance" the river walkway among several other improvements.

The building - which currently consists of the hotel, the Nelson Table Table restaurant and several unused commercial units  - would be knocked down to make room for the revamped site. 

An artist's impression of the redevelopment from the river (Image: Sheppard Robson)

Public exhibitions and consultations were carried out earlier in the year and in February a rough roadmap was revealed which promised a June 2027 completion date.

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Richard Pearson, senior development manager for Whitbread, previously said: "The location can deliver more than it does currently and we're proposing to make a substantial investment in a new masterplan which will deliver a new, better Premier Inn hotel as well as other appropriate uses."

Whitbread has been approached for comment. 

The regeneration would include an improved river walk (Image: Sheppard Robson)Thorpe Hamlet councillor Ben Price (Image: Ben Price)

Thorpe Hamlet councillor Ben Price added: "In early consultations, Whitbread showed keenness and a commitment to deliver an ambitious landmark building at the gateway to Norwich.

"I'm sure that commitment remains and I look forward to assessing their planning application.

"In the meantime, I urge them to take steps now to secure the front of the property and help reduce antisocial behaviour that commuters, visitors and most importantly schoolchildren must walk past every day."

A Premier Inn spokesman said after this article was published: “We have been undertaking extensive consultation with the local community, our neighbours, important local stakeholders, and officers at the local authority as we look to bringing forward a proposal that improves the visual appearance of this gateway site from the station and enhances the river walkway experience. 

"We are set to launch a second round of consultation before the summer, with submission of the application being made in the Autumn.”