On a “historic day,” demolition work began on a shopping mall to make way for a new £350 million development, according to the council.

Anglia Square in Norwich is being demolished and will be replaced by 1,100 residences, shops, and leisure areas.

The precinct, developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was purchased by Norwich City Council for £5.6 million in December after a housing developer cancelled a £300 million regeneration project.

Councillors and business leaders gathered to see demolition equipment move in, with Labour council leader Mike Stonard describing it as a “huge day, a historic day — it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work”.

The authority had stated that £34 million in government money would cover the acquisition, as well as demolition and development costs.

“This site has been in decline for several decades,” Stonard told the BBC Look East. “The private sector sought to develop it, but it was not viable; it failed. “The council has bought the site and we’re going to make it happen.”

Demolition work is planned to last until spring, after which builders will move to the site.

According to Stonard, 350 houses, mostly flats, will be erected in the first two phases, with social and affordable housing accounting for half of the total. The remainder of the housing proposal is yet to be designed and granted planning clearance.

The council leader also stated that the regeneration would be “fantastic” for the area and that he hoped it would have a “knock-on effect” throughout the city.

Qays Najm/BBC