New look at Danish-style co-housing scheme planned for Norwich

It's being described as 'something new' for the city

What Angel Yard might look like
Author: Eleanor Storey, LDRSPublished 8th Jul 2024

A new image has revealed how Norfolk’s first co-housing community could look, as prospective residents prepare for work to get under way.

Proposals for the Danish-style co-housing scheme in Norwich were approved by the city council in March after nearly a decade in the pipeline.

The group behind the scheme has now revealed a new look at the planned development on a site on the corner of Sussex Street and Oak Street, which they purchased nine years ago.

The aim is to create the city’s first community of its kind, named Angel Yard, with private properties connected through communal areas and a spirit of sharing.

However, the project struggled to get off the ground until recently.

Lucy Hall, one of the future residents, said: “It’s great to see our plans take shape and have an exterior image to show how it will look. We can’t wait to get started.

“We are not literally building the homes with our own hands, but we’ll be taking a keen interest in progress and keeping in contact with neighbours to minimise disruption.”

The development will see the construction of two four-storey blocks of flats, along with six terraced houses, totalling 34 new dwellings. Residents will share amenity spaces and a communal garden.

Concerns

Concerns were raised by local people who feared the new flats would dwarf the surrounding homes and harm the character of the streets.

However, councillors were largely supportive of the unusual proposals – describing the development as “something new” for the city – and gave it the green light at a meeting in March.

Angel Yard will be the first purpose-built cohousing scheme in Norfolk – with work expected to get under way in early 2025.

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