Reacting to the news that developers Weston Homes have been forced to cancel their plans to redevelop Anglia Square, Cllr Mike Stonard, leader of Norwich City Council, said:

“This is a terrible blow for the city and many of our residents. The overall benefit of this scheme was clear – the comprehensive redevelopment would have transformed one of the most deprived areas of the city and one of the top 10% of most deprived areas in the country.

In real and practical outcomes, regeneration of this part of the city would have provided up to 1,100 much-needed homes, including affordable housing, along with job opportunities and the creation of public open spaces.

The boost to the local economy was equally undeniable, with the estimated residential growth expected to bring in between £21.9 and £36.4 million a year to the Norwich economy.

Despite Weston Homes’ announcement, Anglia Square remains the most significant development opportunity in the northern part of the city and one of the council’s most important priorities for regeneration.

We will do all we can to attract new developers, despite the current challenges of the UK economy which we are all living through.

I would like to thank Weston Homes for their effort and commitment to Norwich.

Weston Homes and Anglia Square are casualties of the mismanagement of the economy by the conservative government.

What Norwich needs, as with many other cities around the UK, is government funding and a focus on urban regeneration.

This is essential for attracting inward investment from developers who want to make a positive contribution to our city and help us to create the kind of opportunities where people across all of our communities have an equal chance to thrive.

A new labour government is urgently needed to address this”

Read more: Eastern Daily Press.