Green Councillors' Departure Decides Contentious Norwich Debenhams Redevelopment Vote
Controversial proposals to demolish a former Debenhams department store in Norwich to construct hundreds of student flats narrowly passed by four votes to three after two Green councillors who opposed the scheme departed a planning meeting prematurely. The pivotal decision unfolded during a Norwich City Council planning committee session that descended into disarray, with Labour members seizing upon the incident to denounce what they labelled as further 'Green chaos'.
Meeting Suspension and Unexpected Absences
The committee initially voted five to four against the development, prompting a brief suspension to allow opponents to formalise their objections for a subsequent vote. However, when proceedings resumed, Green councillors Charlie Caine and Jenny Knight were absent, leaving opposition forces in the minority. The Green group later clarified that Cllr Caine had 'an appointment', while Cllr Knight, a dementia care worker, attended a job interview, stating they had informed officers beforehand and 'tried to stay as long as we could'.
Labour's Accusations and Broader Political Context
Labour, which holds nineteen of the council's thirty-nine seats compared to the Greens' sixteen, criticised the timing of the councillors' commitments given the meeting's significance. A Labour source remarked, 'For them to leave before the decision was concluded was farcical. We’ve all had enough of Green chaos. They should stand aside if they can’t take their duties seriously.' This episode emerged on the eve of the Gorton & Denton by-election, where strategists speculate the hard-Left Greens could capture a traditional Labour stronghold, despite controversies over policies like legalising hard drugs and decriminalising prostitution.
Scandals and Absenteeism Concerns
Critics highlighted that Greens accounted for 64% of absences at full council meetings over the past year, versus 32% for Labour. The party has also faced scandals, including:
- 'Nazigate': Cllr Caine was accused of shouting 'Nazis' at women holding a vigil for females in Afghanistan, with the group declining an investigation as Caine wasn't a signed-up member.
- Former leader Alex Catt faced a standards probe after alleging Norwich Labour 'fuelled a transphobic campaign' by focusing on accusations against Caine, a biological female identifying as a man.
- Green councillor Liam Calvert was accused of hypocrisy for criticising council housing stock while tenants in his property complained of unfixed damp.
Redevelopment Details and Heritage Objections
The former Debenhams building, a handsome 1950s structure closed since 2021 and now boarded up with graffiti, was purchased three years ago by Orford House Developments Ltd. Initial plans for 405 student flats and retail units were revised to 377 flats across eight storeys after objections. Heritage groups strongly opposed the demolition:
- The Twentieth Century Society warned of losing an 'irreplaceable resource'.
- The council's conservation team deemed demolition 'unjustified', with Historic England citing harm to the conservation area.
- The Norwich Society expressed concerns over replacement quality and townscape impacts.
University of East Anglia officials noted no demand for more student flats, with empty apartments already on campus. However, council officers recommended approval as the only viable option, with developer Matt Horne warning that refusal would leave the building 'blight the city for years'.
Green Leadership Response and Aftermath
Norwich Green leader Lucy Galvin attempted to defuse the fallout, telling the Mail, 'Obviously they [voters] can trust us. Planning is a committee that’s built on rules and rules are followed. Absolutely they can trust us.' Cllr Caine, a trans activist and musical director of Norwich Pride’s Sing With Pride choir, and Cllr Knight, who advocates for 'direct democracy and direct action', did not respond to further comment requests. The council and Orford House Developments were approached for additional statements as the redevelopment moves forward amidst ongoing political tensions.
