Plans for 3,500 homes back on after Colman's factory bought

Government redevelopment agency Homes England has bought the 42-acre Carrow Works site near Trowse, where the famous mustard and Robinson's fruit drinks used to be produced.

Council leaders hope the purchase will reinvigorate plans for more than 3,500 homes and thousands of jobs in the Norwich Regeneration Area, which have been on the drawing board for years.

An aerial view of the former Colman's Carrow Works site (Image: Fuel Properties)

Plans by Fuel Properties, the previous owner of Carrow Works for almost 1,900 homes were rejected by Norwich City Council's planning committee two years ago.

They were turned down amid concerns about a lack of affordable housing and a lack of detail about the environment impact.

With Homes England now the new owners of the factory, council leaders hope that purchase will accelerate the project to get new houses built.

Carli Harper (Image: Labour)

Carli Harper, cabinet member for finance and major projects at Labour-run City Hall, said: "The acquisition is a massive game changer in our mission to regenerate East Norwich to be a beacon of waterside living.

"We are going work at pace with Homes England to help deliver top-quality homes, many of which will be affordable, jobs for local people and build a new vibrant, waterside community which would be one of the most liveable neighbourhoods in England if not Europe."

Alison Crofton, chief regional delivery officer at Homes England, said: "The acquisition of Carrow Works marks a significant step forward in the regeneration of East Norwich and toward the delivery of a new vibrant community.

"This is a prime example of how Homes England is working collaboratively with Norwich City Council to turn this complex brownfield site into a thriving neighbourhood that will provide much-needed homes."

Making and filling mustard tins in 1940 (Image: Colman's/Unilever)

The site was home to the Colman’s Mustard factory for more than 160 years, before it shut in 2020.

Homes England previously awarded the city council a £34m grant to help buy Anglia Square, where demolition work is under way before new homes are constructed.