Traders along Magdalen Street claim the demolition of Anglia Square and the construction of St Saviour’s Yard is having a “massive impact”, with one takeaway owner saying he can no longer pay his rent.

The changes are part of a £350 million revamp that will include the construction of 1,100 new homes and a range of leisure, retail and community spaces.

The Anglia Square sign breaks as demolition work is started on the buildings. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The levelling of Anglia Square, a shopping centre which stood in the city for more than 50 years, began in November and is due to take six months to complete.

The scheme is being led by an investment partnership between Aviva Capital Partners and Norwich City Council, with funding from Homes England.

PARKING WOES

Thousands of parking spaces have been lost as a result of the redevelopment work.

City locals can no longer park in the car park off St Saviour’s Lane.

This is because St Saviours Yard, the city’s new “box park” development, with dozens of temporary container shops, has opened at the site.

Some 1,500 car parking spaces, spread across various blocks at Anglia Square, are no longer available.

John Naylor, owner of Beatnix, a record shop in Magdalen Street, has been severely impacted by the loss of these facilities.

Owner of Beatnix, a record shop in Magdalen Street (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

He said: “It’s really frustrating.

“I have customers asking me where they can park all the time.

“I have had to open the shop late at times because I can’t find a place to park.

“That’s the issue for me.

“I have been here 20 years.

“Magdalen Street has seen a lot of change.

Beatnix in Magdalen Street (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

“I am all for the box park.

“But I don’t think the council has thought things through enough.”

SHOPS CLOSING

Next door to Beatnix, Quality Discounts (QD), was forced to close in November last year.

A spokesman for the store revealed this was due to the “loss of nearby parking” and “the introduction of hoardings around the redevelopment area”.

Quality Discounts closed in November (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

The hoardings around Anglia Square (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

It became “impossible” to sustain the business, which had moved from Anglia Square.

And other businesses are fighting for survival, including the owner of Zaza’s, Barza Aga, who is unable to afford to pay rent at his takeaway.

He said: “I am meant to pay rent on the 1st of each month.

“Today we are in the second week of January, and I still haven’t paid.

Zaza’s in Magdalen Street (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

“I can’t afford it.

“I did have two other staff members.

“I let them go a few months ago.

“I have been here for 18 months now.

“When Anglia Square was open, business was thriving.

“There were lots of customers.

“It’s even a struggle to pay bills.”

IMPACT OF CONSTRUCTION

Part of the project includes the construction of 1,100 new homes, including at least 50pc affordable homes, which will begin in spring 2026.

There will also be a revamped office and shopping space.

Salman Gorz, a manager at Cafe Norwich, worries that next month things will get worse for the business as the bus stop opposite Anglia Square will be suspended.

He said: “Our business has been here 21 years.

Salman Gorz, manager at Norwich Cafe (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

“It has drastically gone downhill.

“I am worried about there being no bus stop.

“My customers are primarily older people.

“It’s too far for them to walk in.

“The council should have thought about us a bit more.”

Greg Mcleod, who works at Premier, a corner shop in the area, said: “We’ve been less affected by other shops.

“We have some trade from the builders.

“But the loss of the car park as a result of the box park development was unexpected.

“There’s a worry that the shop could close.

“I thought QD would stay.

“They got hit really bad.”

A council spokesman said: “This council has grasped the nettle and will be driving through the regeneration of the Anglia Square which has long been stalled for many years.

“We do understand demolition and building works will have an impact on local traders.

“This is why we created the new box park, St Saviours Yard, which is already up and running and will, we believe, make Magdalen Street a really buzzing part of the city.”