And a planning application for the first phase of the redevelopment of the former mustard factory site, earmarked for 3,500 new homes, could be lodged later this year.
Norwich City Council has confirmed that Haworth Tompkins – which bid for the contract in a joint submission with Norfolk-based Hudson Architects – has been awarded the contract, to design the first phase of the major extension at the site, near Trowse.
The London-based company, which won the coveted Stirling Prize architectural award for its work on the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, was one of 32 tenders for the contract, which is worth up to £1m.
An aerial view of the former Colman’s Carrow Works site in Norwich (Image: Fuel Properties)
A spokesman for Green-controlled Norwich City Council said: “Despite stiff competition, the assessment panel identified Haworth Tompkins, in a joint bid with local firm Hudson Architects and landscape designers Periscope, as the preferred bidder, due to their impressive application and top marks for quality and best value.”
Norwich City Council has long had ambitions to regenerate the area – known as the East Norwich Strategic Regeneration Area – which is earmarked for thousands of new homes and jobs.
However, previous plans by Fuel Properties were rejected by the planning committee two years ago, amid concerns about a lack of affordable housing and a lack of detail about the environment impact.
But the redevelopment ambitions were given fresh impetus in March, when government redevelopment agency Homes England announced it had bought the 42-acre Carrow Works site.
The site was home to the Colman’s Mustard factory for more than 160 years, while Robinson’s drinks were also produced there.
Making and filling mustard tins at the Norwich Colman’s factory in 1940 (Image: Colman’s / Unilever)
But the famous Colman’s factory closed its doors in 2020, after owner Unilever’s decision to transfer production to Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire.