North Walsham HAZ project nearing completion

Date published: 2nd March 2023

The North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project is nearing completion as works in the Market Place and Church Street progress.

The ground-changing project is moving towards its final phase as Market Place and Church Street are to reopen to traffic soon.

Throughout the HAZ project, there have been many upgrades and improvements to different areas of the town.

Here’s a reminder of the work that has taken place:

The Market Place works

The Market Place enhancement works have provided an improved balance between pedestrians and vehicles to help create a safer environment for all.

Providing wider pavements and level access areas free from traffic will help people with mobility issues, families with pushchairs and young people have a more pleasant experience within the town. Alongside the pedestrian experience, there are benches within the Market Place and additional space for businesses to provide pavement seating.

The Market Place improvements have also allowed for the continuation of centrally located Blue Badge parking - four in the Market Place and a further space on Church Street, allowing drivers or passengers a much safer space to get in and out of their cars. There are also dedicated spaces that can be used for loading, allowing for collections and deliveries for high street businesses.

Free parking spaces

In lieu of the loss of short stay parking spaces in the Market Place the District Council has provided ten free 60-minute parking spaces in Bank Loke Car Park and six free 60-minute spaces in Vicarage Street Car Park, with both areas marked with red bays.

Church Approach

The newly regenerated Church Approach area has provided the town with a new meeting place with new benches, trees, plants and the re-positioned Lepus ‘Go-Go’ hare; the area is a brighter, social space with improved through-access and is accompanied by remedial works to buildings around the slope, due for completion soon.

Travel Hub

In addition to the HAZ works, a wider investment in North Walsham has delivered a new Transport Hub at the New Road Car Park with an enhanced passenger experience, new facilities and better information. This has also helped to reduce congestion in the Market Place and on Yarmouth Road for those driving through the town.

Public toilet facilities

North Norfolk District Council has upgraded the New Road toilet block to support the new Travel Hub and is currently building a new toilet block on the Vicarage Street Car Park.

This new toilet block will have dedicated male, female, family, accessible, 24/7 gender-neutral toilet and Changing Places facilities.

Cllr Richard Kershaw Portfolio holder for Sustainable Growth said:

"We would like to thank residents for their continued patience with this project. These investments have significantly helped to increase North Walsham’s attraction, accessibility and inclusiveness for all – including non-car drivers and people with disabilities creating a safer town centre environment for all, reinforcing North Norfolk District Council’s confidence in North Walsham as a town for the future whilst respecting and building upon its important history."

Hear more from Cllr Richard Kershaw, the Portfolio holder for Sustainable Growth on the Market Place works: