Demolition work underway at former Norwich shoe factory site as petrol station plan submitted

Demolition work in progress at the former Bally shoe factory on Hall Road, Norwich. Photo : Steve Adams

Peter Walsh Monday, February 2, 2015 9:52 AM

Demolition work has begun at a former Norwich shoe factory as it emerged a supermarket giant has submitted a planning application for a petrol filling station on the site.

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A new Asda store is to be built at the former Bally Shoe Factory site after planning permission was granted in 2013 for the 5,796 sq m superstore with the 122m development also including a gym, pub, community centre, 334-space car park and other shops.

And as the bullzozers begin to move in, supermarket bosses have revealed they have put in a planning application to Norwich City Council for a petrol station at the Harford Place site, off Hall Road.

The petrol filling station would replace one of the employment units and would be located towards the north-east corner of the site, bordering Bessemer Road and close to the main site entrance on Sandy Lane.

Philip Bartram, Asda senior property communications manager, said: The employment units on site still have the potential to play an important part in the wider district centre, but unfortunately interest in them from local businesses has not been as keen as we would have hoped.

Coupled with the need to constantly live up to the needs and expectations of shoppers, it makes perfect sense to seek a change of use from one of the employment units three will still remain to an Asda petrol filling station.

Asdas development plans at Harford Place have been met with tremendous local support throughout, and I hope this latest addition will also prove very popular.

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Demolition work underway at former Norwich shoe factory site as petrol station plan submitted