Hopes are high that the missing piece of Norwich's waterfront regeneration will slot into place after it was confirmed yesterday that land at St Anne's Wharf has been sold.

Hopes are high that the missing piece of Norwich's waterfront regeneration will slot into place after it was confirmed yesterday that land at St Anne's Wharf has been sold.

The 2.130 hectare (5.26 acre) site stretches from King Street to the Wensum and forms an embrace around the newly restored Grade I listed Dragon Hall.

Once home to Grand Metropolitan's Norwich brewery distribution depot and RMC's concrete batching plant, it is the location of the proposed second pedestrian river crossing and provides an important link between the existing urban renewal developments on both banks.

Acting on behalf of Wilson Bowden, which won a hard-fought planning battle to secure permission for 438 new homes on the land, Savills' Norwich development team has sold the site to Anglia Projects and Developments Ltd.

Stuart Barnett, managing director of Anglia Projects and Developments, said: “Anglia Projects and Developments is delighted to have secured this important residential development at a time when the riverside is undergoing such a popular regeneration.

“St Anne's Wharf will be a vibrant courtyard scheme featuring a new bridge link to the excellent mixed entertainment, restaurant and leisure facilities opposite. We believe the development will prove very attractive to new buyers and investors alike.”

The plans stalled earlier this year after failure to agree the number of cheaper homes that should be built on the site.

As reported in the EDP, Wilson Bowden at first said it was not viable to have any low cost homes and wanted to build some in another part of the city.

The latest deal should pave the way for the completion of the long awaited Nelson Bridge, which has been held up during the row with the council unable to start work.