£18m block to be built at prison

Cells in Norwich's A wing were closed at the weekend

Plans to build a new £18m block at Norwich Prison are expected to be submitted by the Home Office.

It will replace the Victorian A-Wing, which opened again on Wednesday after it was condemned and closed five days earlier as unfit for human habitation.

The Home Office told the prison to take up to 150 remand prisoners because of a shortage of cells across the country.

It has now emerged government officials have met the city council with a view to submitting a planning application.

John Andrew, of Norwich City Council, said: "There will be a planning application coming very shortly.

"It will be before the planning committee to be considered."

In a 2005 report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers, A-Wing was deemed one of the worst prison wings her inspectors had seen.

It was described as filthy, overcrowded and unfit for human habitation.

It closed at the weekend after a phased removal of more than 250 prisoners.