Two city-centre dwellings at 4 Fishers Lane, Norwich
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Norwich Planning Applications Committee on 15 Jan 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed demolishing a vacant workshop and building one 2–3-storey building containing two dwellings with separate access.
“The site and surroundings 1. The site comprises an existing vacant commercial/workshop building fronting onto, and accessed from, Fishers Lane. The building is a two-storeys high with a flat roof with an external staircase. It has a rendered outer leaf wall with horizontal runs of fixed metal windows and casement windows of various ages. The flat roof is a slim construction with a felt covering. 2.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site was a vacant workshop in a shared yard within the City Centre Conservation Area, near homes, businesses and listed buildings.
“The site is located in the City Centre Conservation area (St Giles Character Area). No 2a Fishers Lane and buildings fronting St Giles Street (no 29-45) are Statutorily Listed Buildings. The listing extends to outrigger additions. Relevant Planning History 6. The records held by the city council show the following planning history for the site.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval subject to conditions, a RAMS payment undertaking and confirmation that nutrient mitigation credits had been purchased.
“Recommendation: It is recommended to APPROVE the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the planning conditions set out at the end of this report, as well as an Unilateral Undertaking in relations to RAMS tariff and confirmation that sufficient credits have been purchased to mitigate the impact of the development on protected sites.”
Officer report
Who spoke
A resident objector addressed the committee about height, heritage and amenity, while the applicant described design work, parking, privacy and construction arrangements.
Members’ debate
Members discussed archaeology, the constrained site, heritage and massing, residents’ amenity, sustainability and whether public benefits outweighed harm.
“Members queried whether it was likely that archaeological issues arising on the site. In response the Senior Planner said that Historic Environment Services had been consulted on the proposal, the proposal was within a historic part of the city and Historic Environment Services therefore were recommending a written scheme of investigation. If things were found, then this could mean additional costs to the developer. Members discussed the merits of the application.”
Minutes
The committee vote
The committee voted nine members in favour and two against approving the application.
“It was proposed and seconded that the application be approved as detailed in the updated officer recommendation as detailed in the tabled papers. RESOLVED, with nine members voting in favour (Councillors Driver, Sands (M),Caine, Hampton, Harper, Knight, Lubbock, Smith and Sands (S)), and two members voting against (Councillors Fox and Stutely) that application 24/00126/F – 4 Fishers Lane was approved and permission was granted as detailed in the updated officer…”
Minutes
The members' reasons
“The Committee noted that the tabled papers contained two additional proposed conditions to require the submission of detailed drawings of doors and windows and the submission of details of the renewable energy scheme. 44.3 James Knight addressed the Committee as an objector pursuant to Planning Applications Procedure Rule 9.”
“Some members considered that the proposal was within a constrained site but had sought to address concerns around heritage and massing and would bring benefits to the area.”
“It was considered that the reduced level of amenity space for residents of the dwelling was on balance acceptable as it was in a sustainable location. 44.7 Some members considered that the proposal was an overdevelopment of the site and the reduced amenity to residents of the proposed dwellings were not acceptable.”
Minutes
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Norwich Planning Applications Committee minutes, 15 January 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Norwich's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
Committee decisions and nationwide planning applications, in one API
The Plota API returns planning applications from every council we cover, each with its decision, whether a committee or officers decided it, and the committee date. Build it into your own tools.
See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Norwich
- Date
- Thursday 15 January 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Norwich committee decisions →
This committee's year
18 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.