Based in Queens Road, the office block named Victoria House, has stood empty since the start of last year when the insurance company moved out of the building.
Now, a letter posted to those living nearby has revealed developers Norwich Victoria want to demolish the building and redevelop the site.
Details of the redevelopment are yet to emerge, but it is believed at least part of the new site would be likely to include office space.
This is due to a special planning order introduced after it was found the city centre had lost more than 30pc of its business space since 2013.
According to the letter, developers are planning to begin work on August 7 and finish within six months.
The Marsh building could be demolished as early as August (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Redevelopment of Anglia Square to start in just six months, promises developer
A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said it would not be able to stop the demolition but would be able to determine the way it was demolished.
She said: “The city council has today (June 8) received a prior application for demolition of Victoria House.
“The council will have to determine this application, but is only able to consider the way in which the building is demolished, not whether it is demolished or not.”
Prior to becoming offices the site was home to Norwich Victoria Station (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: City pubs and brewers hope festival will help weather the storm of rising costs
More than 1,000 staff worked in Victoria House before the pandemic struck, at which point many began working from home.
When the insurance firm left for a new Broadland Business Park building in Thorpe St Andrew, Marsh confirmed no jobs were lost as part of the move from it had been based for more than 50 years since the time it was known as Sedgwick.
An aerial shot of Norwich Victoria Station (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: To be continued? Vandals take matters into their own hands at vacant city shop
Prior to that, the site was part of Norwich Victoria Station on the old Great Eastern Main Line, the station closed in 1926.
Before the station, it was the site of Pablo Fanque's circus.
A blue plaque for Pablo Fanque in Norwich (Image: Newsquest)
Fanque was Britain's first black circus owner and a poster for one of his shows gave the Beatles' song Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite its title with the man himself getting a mention in the lyrics.
Demolition of city centre office block to start this year
6
0
09.06.2023
Based in Queens Road, the office block named Victoria House, has stood empty since the start of last year when the insurance company moved out of the building.
Now, a letter posted to those living nearby has revealed developers Norwich Victoria want to demolish the building and redevelop the site.
Details of the redevelopment are yet to emerge, but it is believed at least part of the new site would be likely to include office space.
This is due to a special planning order introduced after it was found the city centre had lost more than 30pc of its business space since 2013.
According to the letter,........
© Norwich Evening News
visit website