Homes England has applied to clear 1970s and 1980s sheds at the old Colman's factory, Carrow Works, to make way for up to 300 homes. Reference 26/01041/F.

A planning application to knock down industrial sheds at Carrow Works, the former Colman’s mustard factory, was submitted last week. Homes England, which bought the site in March, is working with Norwich City Council to build homes there.

The application covers the demolition of some 1970s and 1980s industrial sheds and early work to prepare part of the site. It is not an application for new homes. Norwich City Council announced it on 30 October, and its reference is 26/01041/F (Norwich City Council).

Why it matters

The council says the work is meant to speed up the first phase of homes at the site. That first phase is up to 300 homes. The wider framework for the whole 19-hectare site has space for around 1,300, according to the Carrow Sites project website.

The site has stood empty for eight years. Homes England, the government’s housing agency, says it is aiming for the first homes by 2029.

Jayshree Patel, Homes England’s head of planning and enabling, said the demolition “shows how our partnership with Norwich City Council is helping to unlock this important brownfield site”.

Councillor Lucy Galvin, the leader of Norwich City Council, called it “a necessary step to take in our journey to build new homes for local people on the former Colman’s factory site”.

How we got here

  • March 2024: the council refused a scheme by a private developer for up to 1,859 homes on the site
  • 24 March 2026: Homes England completed its purchase of Carrow Works (GOV.UK)
  • 2, 3 and 6 October 2026: drop-ins and a webinar on the first phase and the sitewide framework
  • Late October 2026: the demolition and site preparation application goes in
  • 2029: Homes England’s target for the first homes

Our September story on the Carrow Works homes plan sets out what the first phase includes and the questions it leaves open, including affordable housing.

What it means for you

  • The application is open to view. Search for 26/01041/F on the council’s planning public access system. The council says it covers the first part of the Carrow Works site only.
  • We could not read the application file today. The council’s planning site refused our requests on 2 November. So we cannot yet say which sheds are listed, the hours of work, the lorry routes or the date by which comments must be in. We will add them when we can.
  • The council says safeguards are planned. Its announcement says the works will include “environmental safeguards in place to protect local residents, neighbouring properties, wildlife, the river, heritage and traffic”.
  • People living near King Street and Bracondale are the most likely to notice the work once it starts. For road closures in the area, see Norwich roadworks this week, and for other schemes, our Norwich planning news page.

Sources