An initial application in 2019 was narrowly refused. We submitted a revised and much improved planning application to the City Council which was again narrowly rejected by the Planning Committee in late 2020, citing one specific ecological reason. This was despite a recommendation from Planning Officers to approve our scheme.

We are urgently reassessing our next steps to successfully navigate the planning system.

Clearly this is a hugely sensitive site and there are many stakeholders involved. We have worked hard for over four years assessing constraints and opportunities and Governors remain confident of a positive outcome to this work in due course.

The school is committed to delivering a transformational legacy for this site for the long-term benefit of the whole community.

Re-development of the Bishop’s Palace Lawn area on which the current refectory sits is long overdue. The current refectory is no longer fit for purpose and the chosen development site is ideal to meet the school’s strategic long-term needs. We have worked for over three years with stakeholders to deliver an ambitious and appropriate legacy development for the benefit to the whole community.

In the initial phase we will construct a new kitchen and iconic dining hall, better sized to the current school needs, with views of the Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral. Once this is completed, in Phase Two, we will construct a new, two-storey classroom block. Finally, we will pedestrianize and landscape the whole area to ensure it is safe, green and a good environmental fit within the Cathedral Close.

Subject to obtaining satisfactory planning permissions, sufficient funding being in place and contractors being appointed, we aim to start as soon as possible.

It is envisaged that the dining hall will take at least a year to build and the classroom block another year thereafter.

As this is the largest project the school has ever undertaken in recent years, a specialist project manager will be employed to oversee it.

The school has two main priorities during this project: i) the safety of all pupils in its care; ii) the continuity of provision of hot lunchtime meals for the whole school. Both will require careful management.

Addressing i): The areas of site under development will be screened off at all times. As far as possible, contractor access will be through and over the precinct wall surrounding the site rather than through the school grounds.

Addressing ii) The current refectory will be kept running and the existing kitchens will remain fully operational during the construction of the new dining hall. Only when that structure is commissioned and in use will the current refectory be demolished.

Initial estimates, subject to detailed tending and finalising of design, are in the region of £10,000,000

This is the most ambitious capital project the school has ever undertaken and rigorous viability assessments have been considered by the Governors.

The intent is to use £3m over three years of school trading surplus, to take on £4m of borrowing and raise the balance of the £10m required to complete the project through fundraising. 25% of the fundraising target of £3m has already been raised through donor generosity, as at spring 2019.

We have worked for three years with key stakeholders including the planning authority, statutory bodies, neighbours and the Cathedral to design an appropriate, attractive legacy development that the school and the wider Norwich community will be proud of.

By clever use of space, orientation and incorporation of the precinct wall, we believe we have designed a structure that fits in sensitively with its historic surroundings. We intend that the building will be used by the wider community, allowing people to enjoy splendid views of the Bishop’s Palace.

From an ecological perspective, we hope the pedestrianizing of this corner of the Upper Close and the extensive landscaping will serve to make the area green and welcoming, as well as remedying any current untidy areas.

Whilst it is clear the school will enjoy the new facilities that it has funded, we are very excited about the benefit to the wider community outside the school gates.

Norwich School is already committed to a major programme of outreach activities as part of its Reaching Out campaign, letting out its facilities for charitable purposes on a sliding scale of charges reflecting this.

Beyond the school day, our intent is to allow sensitively-managed access to this wonderful new space to external hires from the local community, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of the new facilities, the unique position and views.