The venerable Norfolk firm announced ambitions to turn St James Mill, near Whitefriars Bridge, into an 88-bedroom hotel with a spa, gym, bar and restaurant back in September 2024.

But the plans, which were officially lodged with Norwich City Council in December that year, are yet to be approved.

St James Mill, in Whitefriars, Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Nick Steven-Jones, Jarrolds chief executive, said the age and location of the building, paired with the number of interested parties the plans need to pass through, have led to delays.

“Do I think it [obtaining planning permission] will be this side of the new year? No, probably not,” he said.

“We are working well with Norwich City Council, but realistically I think it will probably take another six months at least.”

Nick Steven-Jones, Jarrolds chief executive (Image: Denise Bradley)

What the reception area of the Jarrolds hotel could look like (Image: Jarrolds)

St James Mill was built as a yarn mill in 1839 and bought by the Jarrold family in 1903.

It is Grade I listed and part of the Norwich 12 - a list of buildings of significant historical importance.

In 1919 it was sold to the Ministry of Labour to be used as a training centre at the end of the First World War.

St James Mill, near Whitefriars Bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Jarrolds repurchased the site in 1927, transforming it into offices which became the home of Jarrold Printing from the 1930s, employing up to 2,000 at its height.

Its hotel plans include demolishing a 20th-century flat roof extension to the building and replacing it with a new two-storey “industrial-style” extension housing a café for visitors.

Jarrolds' hotel plans include demolishing a 20th-century flat roof extension to St James' Mill and replacing it with a new two-storey “industrial-style” extension (Image: Supplied)

What the inside of the Jarrolds hotel could look like (Image: Jarrolds)

“We're an eighth-generation, 255-year-old business,” Mr Steven-Jones said. “It’s about long-term stewardship, so we are comfortable........

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