Norwich City Council has acquired the long-vacant former Van Dal shoe factory on Dibden Road for £1.2 million, following its devastating fire in January 2025. The building, which had stood empty since 2018, was purchased using funds from the council’s Town Deal revolving fund, a government initiative designed to rejuvenate stalled brownfield sites. Shortly after the acquisition, the council sold the damaged site to Flagship Group for the same amount, under an agreement to develop approximately 48 new affordable homes.

The fire, which ravaged the factory’s remains, resulted in seemingly irreparable damage and triggered an arson investigation led by Norfolk Police. It also prompted the temporary closure of a nearby school due to concerns regarding asbestos contamination, illustrating the fire’s extensive repercussions within the local community. Residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut as safety measures were implemented.

Hemingford Group, the previous owner, had initiated plans to redevelop the site prior to the fire, proposing a mixture of affordable housing. Nonetheless, the lack of action since the factory’s closure in 2018 had left the site increasingly vulnerable to vandalism, with reports of broken windows and graffiti becoming commonplace. The factory’s dereliction had become a point of contention, raising fears of antisocial behaviour among local residents.

While the Greater Norwich Local Plan earmarks the Dibden Road site for residential development, stipulating proposals should consider the heritage significance of what was once a locally listed building, the ravaged state of the factory renders these discussions largely moot. Local authorities and heritage representatives have expressed concerns about the complete loss of the structure, highlighting the need for a full heritage statement before any new plans are put forward.

Despite the challenges surrounding it, the redevelopment appears necessary, as local councillors have voiced support for turning the site into homes to combat the dereliction and vandalism that have plagued it. However, any new construction cannot commence until the necessary planning permissions are secured, leaving the timeline for potential housing development uncertain.

As Norwich seeks to alleviate housing shortages and reclaim troubled spaces for community use, the fate of the Van Dal site underscores the complexities at the intersection of urban development, heritage conservation, and public safety. The outcome of the Flagship Group’s proposals will be closely monitored as the community hopes for a positive transformation of a once-vibrant location into a source of new housing.

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Source: Noah Wire Services