FIRST LOOK AT NEW NORWICH SCHOOL DINING AND TEACHING FACILITIES

Our plans for new facilities at Norwich School have been submitted for full planning permission, alongside an accompanying Listed Building Consent application to Norwich City Council.

The application comprises the construction of a new dining hall and kitchen block on land to the north-east of the existing refectory. Once this has been constructed, the current dining facility will be demolished and the new classroom block constructed on its site.

The proposed dining hall will have capacity for over 450 diners per sitting and will be approximately 500m². It will comprise a full-height, glass-fronted hall of one storey with spectacular views towards the Bishop’s Palace and the Cathedral. The new classroom block provides accommodation for the schools mathematics department. All rooms will have inspiring views through floor-to-ceiling windows over the historic Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral buildings.

The site of the new facilities is situated on the school site in the corner of Norwich Cathedral’s Upper Close, adjacent to Palace Street.

 

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Proposed Dining Facilities

 

“The proposals provide the school with much needed space and is in response to an urgent need to improve the school’s facilities. Our plans address multiple operational concerns connected with the existing facilities. Our aim is to meet these needs by constructing beautiful buildings of which we all can be very proud. I firmly believe the facilities will have a long-lasting and positive impact on the area for both pupils and the local Norwich community”.

– Chairman of the School’s Governors, Patrick Smith

 

“This presents an opportunity to build upon the school’s well-established community ‘outreach’ programme by providing a new, iconic, multi-use facility in the heart of the city. The development will provide a long-term community asset for the whole city. We see there being considerable interest in these facilities. We also hope for improved awareness of the ancient Bishop’s Palace which sits adjacent to the site”.

– Norwich School Head Master, Steffan Griffiths

 

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Proposed Teaching Facilities

 

The development will also see the pedestrianization and comprehensive landscaping of the Bishop’s Palace Lawn site. It has the potential to significantly improve the site’s environmental and ecological value whilst removing servicing traffic from entering the school site and the potential for conflict with the historic Erpingham Gate.

The application has involved collaborative pre-planning engagement with key stakeholders including Norwich City Council and Historic England, the general public, the local community and advisory groups.

 

“The proposal has been developed in response to a pressing and specific need for the school to improve upon its existing dining facilities and to capitalise upon a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver an iconic community and events space within the heart of historic Norwich.

Sympathetic to local character and history, the high quality architectural solution will establish a strong sense of place that is safe, inclusive and accessible.

Contributing positively to local character and distinctiveness within the Conservation Area the honest, refined and elegant design provides a visual counterpoint to the surrounding heritage assets and landscape, helping to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”

– Rupert Kitchen, Director at LSI Architects