Former Diss town centre Barclays set to become flats and a shop after South Norfolk Council decision

Plans to turn a former Diss bank into flats have been approved.

South Norfolk Council approved plans to turn the former Barclays, at 14 Market Hill, into five domestic flats, while retaining part of the ground floor for retail use.

Barclays closed its Diss branch in August 2023, after it found only 20 customers used the branch regularly as the only way to do their banking; 19 per cent of the branch’s customers had used nearby branches in the previous 12 months and 85 per cent of those using the branch during 2021 also banked using the app, online and by phone.

A planning officer’s report said 14 Market Hill was largely 19th century and, while not listed, ‘contributes much to the historic character of the street scene and qualifies as a non-designated heritage asset’.

A small part of the building to the south-east side dates from the 18th century.

It is surrounded by a mix of commercial premises with some residential accommodation above and is situated inside the ‘Heritage Triangle’ – the town’s historic core.

The approved scheme retains the main large retail area facing on to Market Hill.

“The building’s frontage will be mostly unaltered aside from refurbishment/repainting of the wooden windows and thus the character and appearance of the immediate area around Market Hill will be preserved,” said the report.

To the rear, new windows and a balcony would be added.

The flats would have at least one parking space each.

There were no objections to Ben Barnard’s application.