5 public notices to be aware of in Norfolk this week

1) Great Hospital ward set to be transformed into sheltered homes

The Great Hospital in Norwich

Five new sheltered homes could be created at the Great Hospital near the cathedral.

The grade II-listed East Wards in Bishopgate, is set to be converted into one-bedroom flats under plans submitted to Norwich City Council.

The Great Hospital dates back to 1249 and was intended as a house for decrepit chaplains and sick and hungry paupers.

Clerics were unmarried in this period and had no family to look after them in old age.

Plans explain: "The proposals will return the building back to residential accommodation and create five new single bedroom accommodation units."

The plans say the conversion would help secure the building’s long-term future while causing only "less than substantial harm" to its historic significance.

The Great Hospital is one of Norwich’s oldest institutions and part of the Norwich 12 - a group of the city’s most important heritage sites.

Norwich City Council will now consider the plans.

2)Derelict city phone box could be given a new lease of life

Plans to repurpose the box have been put to Norwich City Council (Image: Newsquest)

A derelict phone box beside St Peter Mancroft Church could be given a new lease of life as an exhibition space celebrating Norwich’s stories and heritage.

Plans submitted to Norwich City Council by the National Centre for Writing (NCW) propose repairing and refurbishing the Grade II-listed K6 kiosk on Weavers Lane.

The NCW is the focal point for Norwich’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature.

The proposal would turn the kiosk into a permanent Norwich City of Literature installation.

Its interior and windows would feature changing displays of artwork, writing and historical stories.

QR codes would link visitors to online information about Norwich’s people, events and heritage.

Displays would focus on the “tales of Norwich”, including Norwich Pride, the Lord Mayor’s celebrations, heritage festivals, traders, artists and community groups.

3) Town centre property could become new 14-bed HMO

The property which could become a house of multiple occupation (HMO) (Image: Google Maps)

Former accommodation for young people in care could be turned into a 14-bedroom house of multiple occupation.

West Norfolk Council has received plans to convert the building into an HMO near the centre of King's Lynn.

The property on Gaywood Road, near the College of West Anglia, has been standing empty for some time.

A planning statement said: "The proposed development will reuse an existing building and deliver much-needed accommodation.

"This proposal will make a modest contribution to housing within the area."

The developer says the HMO would be professionally managed and provide "high-quality shared accommodation in a sustainable location," addressing identified demand for this type of housing.

It says the building is "inherently suitable for multiple occupation" and will need no external alterations, preserving the existing street scene.

It adds the plans would benefit nearby businesses such as convenience stores.

A decision is expected later this year.

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4) Village could soon expand with new homes as plans for development lodged

The homes were said to represent "a logical and sustainable addition" to the village

A village could soon expand as plans for a "high-quality" and "inclusive" housing development were lodged.

Mr and Mrs Liverton are hoping to build new homes on land east of St Margaret's Church in Garvestone, near Dereham.

It was said that the site can accommodate between one and four properties, while maintaining spacing, amenity and privacy.

Each property will either be one or two storeys tall and "integrate seamlessly" with the existing built form.

The development will also include provision for on-site parking, with pedestrian access integrated into the layout.

A design and access statement said the development "represents a logical and sustainable addition" to the village.

The statement added that the homes will be "high-quality" and "inclusive", as well as contribute "modestly" to local housing supply.

It also highlighted it can be delivered without adverse impact on neighbouring properties or local infrastructure.

A decision on the outline proposals is due to be made by Breckland Council at a later date.

The plans can be viewed in full on the council's planning portal, using the reference: PL/2026/1255/OMIN.

5) Controversial town centre hotel seeking permission to keep unauthorized works

The NR19 hotel. (Image: Newsquest)

A controversial town hotel is looking to keep en-suite and kitchenette facilities that were installed without permission.

The works, carried out at NR19 in Dereham, consisted of a worktop, sink, fridge, microwave and base unit in six rooms.

Toilets and showers were also included in two ground floor rooms - leading to an enforcement notice from Breckland Council.

It said the building no longer fit the planning definition of a house of multiple occupation (HMO) due to the changes.

Ms A Burlingham is now seeking retrospective approval to change the six rooms from HMO to hotel and temporary accommodation.

No new building works have been proposed, with the plans intended to restore the previous use of the rooms.

NR19 had come under scrutiny due to being used by councils for emergency accommodation, which included housing recently released prisoners.

However, Breckland Council said there was now "far less concern" about the hotel and that the number of placements had reduced.

The application can be viewed on the council's planning portal, using the reference: PL/2026/1039/FMIN.