First impressions count

Located on a site that was once of part of Norwich’s historic wall, All Saints Green has recently been the focus of major work by Alumno which has helped regenerate the St Stephen’s area of the city. The first project involved renovating 50 All Saints Green, a Grade II listed building, into student housing, while demolishing numbers 52 and 54, and creating a new landscaped public square with gardens.

“We chose the site because it is within easy walking distance of Norwich University of the Arts and a short bus or cycle ride from the University of East Anglia. The development also satisfies the need for student housing in Norwich city centre, which at the time had no halls of residence, either privately or university-managed,” explains Alumno managing director David Campbell.

The site now houses around 220 students in high-quality self-contained cluster flats, six with en-suite bedrooms and a kitchen/lounge, and self-contained studios. The ground floor includes a management office and reception, while the building also features a common room and other associated amenities.

The project supports a number of the local council’s policies. The new state-of-the-art student accommodation helps meet its aim of promoting Norwich as a Learning City. It also fulfils the goal of reinforcing the vibrancy of the city centre through housing and education projects. Finally, it satisfies the demand to regenerate the St Stephen’s area with a mix of developments, including new homes and improved public open spaces.

“Previously the site of the historic Brazen Gate, All Saints Green today stands by another key entry point to Norwich, the bus station, and the our development certainly provides a much improved first impression of the city,” says Campbell.