Cornish Bakehouse lodges plans for former Norwich Topshop

Cornish Bakehouse has lodged plans with Norwich City Council to launch a new store in the city centre.

The bakery, which serves pasties, sandwiches, baguettes and drinks, is planning to open in the former home of Topshop at 17a Hay Hill, between the Mountain Warehouse store and McDonald's. 

The proposals would see the unit, which has been vacant since Topshop closed its doors in 2021, reconfigured with a smaller window and a new entrance. 

Cornish Bakehouse was founded in Cornwall in 1983 and has a handful of stores across the country, with the closest in Essex. 

The vacant unit next to McDonald's (Image: Eleanor Storey)

A spokesman for the company said: "This unit has been vacant for some time and therefore our application will result in the building being brought back into a viable use. 

"The proposal is merely seeking changes to the frontage to provide an attractive shopfront that is fit for purpose."

How the new bakery might look (Image: One Planning)

The new bakery would be open from 7am until 6pm seven days a week.

Work to spruce up Hay Hill began two years ago and Norwich City Council initially said it would reopen by June this year.

READ MORE: Supermarket giant lodges plans for new city store

The new Mountain Warehouse (Image: Denise Bradley)

But new signs put up around the site say the programme has been extended due to "additional work".

The £3.2m scheme will see the busy spot completely redesigned, with new wooden benches, flower beds and handrails.

It will also benefit from better-designed steps, walking links and a water feature, creating a space able to host public events.

The unit at 17a Hay Hill was left empty when the rest of the former Topshop store was transformed into a huge Mountain Warehouse outlet.

The shop opened last year after a deal that would have seen Morrisons move into the site fell through.