Whitbread launches public consultation on emerging proposals to redevelop Premier Inn Norwich Nelson City Centre site
Whitbread PLC, the parent company for Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel business, is launching a public consultation on its emerging proposals for the redevelopment of the Premier Inn Norwich Nelson City Centre site on Prince of Wales Road, Norwich.
The site currently consists of the Norwich Nelson hotel and The Nelson Table Table restaurant, several commercial units, car parking spaces and surrounding land. At present, the site is dated and operationally inefficient with several vacant units fronting onto Prince of Wales Road.
The emerging proposals aim to regenerate the site to create an improved gateway to Norwich from the station, opening and diversifying the site with new uses, accessible landscaped spaces, and an enhanced community offer.
In a phased development, Whitbread intends to replace the existing hotel and restaurant with a larger, latest format Premier Inn and introduce new purpose-built accommodation for students as well as new homes.
The masterplan, designed by principal architect Sheppard Robson, seeks to improve accessibility into the site from Prince of Wales Road and enhance the river walkway to the south-east of the site fronting onto Norwich Station.
As Whitbread continues to develop its plans, a website has been created that provides more information about the proposals and is available at www.norwichnelson.co.uk
Alongside this, two public drop-in events will take place on Wednesday 7th February, from 3pm-7pm, and Saturday 10th February, from 10:30am-2:30pm, at The Nelson Table Table where the plans will be on display and the design team will be available to answer questions on the proposals.
Richard Pearson, Senior Development Manager for Whitbread, said:
“I’m looking forward to showing our neighbours, stakeholders, and Norwich residents our plans for the Norwich Nelson site. The location can deliver more than it does currently and we’re proposing to make a substantial investment in a new masterplan which will deliver a new, better Premier Inn hotel as well as other appropriate uses.
“The development gives us a wonderful opportunity to make more of the site and our architect and landscape architects have worked hard to create a development proposal that connects with its surroundings, is accessible and gives back to Norwich through an enhanced river walkway and improved views from Norwich Station towards the Castle and City Centre.
“My team and I have been working on the proposals for many months and by getting involved in the consultation now, people will be able to learn about our plans and provide feedback to help feed into the developing designs.”
