A huge 20ft high human figure by controversial artist Damien Hirst could be installed in Norwich city centre as early as next Monday.

Eastern Daily Press: Damien Hirst, Hymn, Photographed by Mike Parsons © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2018Damien Hirst, Hymn, Photographed by Mike Parsons © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2018 (Image: Photographed by Mike Parsons © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd.)

Norwich University of the Arts hopes to display the acclaimed artist's work Hymn – a striking giant sculpture putting the spotlight on human anatomy – outside its St George's Building, in St George's Street, and NUA has now received planning consent from Norwich City Council.

Professor Neil Powell, NUA's pro vice-chancellor (academic), said: 'We're delighted to have received planning consent and we're now working on logistics.

'It's a complicated set of arrangements to finalise, but all being well, we're hoping that Hymn could be in Norwich early next week.'

Hymn has previously been shown at Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery in London as well as in Doha, Qatar, and New York.

Eastern Daily Press: NUA's St George's Building where the Damien Hirst sculpture Hymn (1999) may be installed. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYNUA's St George's Building where the Damien Hirst sculpture Hymn (1999) may be installed. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Standing at 5.9 metres tall, the bronze sculpture will be an intriguing addition to Norwich's cityscape, and provide a big cultural boost for the city.

The plan is for it to be on display in Norwich until mid July.

Professor John Last, NUA's vice-chancellor, previously said: 'It's a striking creation by one of Britain's most acclaimed, and most discussed, artists. Temporary installation in Norwich would be a talking point, a tourist draw, and a real coup for the city.'

The sculpture's arrival would coincide with the opening of a major Damien Hirst exhibition in north Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: NUA's St George's Building where the Damien Hirst sculpture Hymn (1999) may be installed. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYNUA's St George's Building where the Damien Hirst sculpture Hymn (1999) may be installed. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall opens on Sunday and runs until July 15.

It will see a series of new paintings entitled Colour Space installed in the State Rooms as well as sculptures displayed throughout the 18th century house and gardens.

For more on the exhibition – part of Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2018 – visit www.houghtonhall.com