“This is a momentous day for Norwich” – Mike Stonard, Labour Leader of Norwich City Council.

Labour-controlled Norwich City Council has announced today that it has purchased Anglia Square, and will lead its regeneration for the benefit of the local community.

Built in the late 1960’s, the former home of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, a cinema and a multi-storey car park now houses only a small shopping centre. The remainder of the site has been empty and derelict for up to thirty years and has become a crumbling eye sore. Several attempts at redevelopment by the private sector have failed so when the current owners put the site on the market, the council, with the support of the new Labour government, stepped in and bought it.

Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, have provided funding to cover the entire cost of the purchase.

Labour Leader of Norwich City Council, Mike Stonard, said

“This is a momentous day for Norwich because the City Council has taken control, will kick-start the redevelopment of the site and will shape its future, in the best interests of local people. This will provide hundreds of much-needed affordable homes, and hundreds of jobs in retail, leisure and construction. We will do everything in our power to ensure it is local people who benefit from these fantastic opportunities. It will also have a positive knock-effect for stalled sites in the vicinity, providing yet further benefits.”

Only a Labour-led Council could have delivered this.

While public ownership of the site has been one of our aims for some time, and recently gained cross-party support at City Hall, this shows what can be achieved very quickly when a Labour Council works hand-in-hand with a Labour Government on a shared objective. Only a Labour-led council could have delivered this for local people.”

Hear more from Clive Lewis MP, Alice Macdonald MP and Cllr Mike Stonard: VIDEO