Further plans for food hall at Norfolk Showground approved

Plans submitted by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) to the South Norfolk District Council in January have been approved. 

The application sought approval for some of the finer details of the project at the site in Costessey, including the car parking, building materials for the build and a footpath and cycle path along Dereham Road.

Visualisations show the scale of the food hall (Image: RNAA) The 8,000sq ft new building, inside the main entrance gate near the A47 junction, will include a shop, café, butcher and delicatessen, along with an outdoor seating area and a two-acre market garden which would be the base for a community growing project.

The RNAA says it will become a flagship showcase for the county's nationally important agri-food sector - creating 21 new jobs, opening new markets for local food and drink producers, and developing educational opportunities.

Plans show the scale of the extension (Image: South Norfolk Council) The food hall will be built in the first phase of the works, which could start before the end of this year.

READ MORE: Outdoor seating area planned for new £2.3m food hall

The second phase will include the development of the market garden building.

Back in April, RNAA managing director Mark Nicholas said that he hoped the new farm shop and cafe would be open by Easter 2025.
Plans show the layout of the new farm shop and cafe (Image: Brown & Co.)

Plans show the layout of the new farm shop, including the expansive new cafe space and kitchen, butcher's and deli counters, accessible parking and toilet facilities.

The Norfolk County Council Highways Authority initially raised concern about the lack of proposed accessible and electric vehicle parking, which was less than was agreed under previous plans.

Despite this, the team decided against objecting, and the plans were given the go-ahead.