Man alleged to run restaurant from house refuses to remove sign

The owner of a house in Norwich who was told by Norwich City Council to remove a restaurant sign in February has still not done so as he has applied for permission to keep it.

Norwich council inspected the premises owned by Orlando Williams in February after it was alleged that he had opened a restaurant in his house. At the time the council told Williams to remove the illuminated sign which read “Orlando’s”, however three months later the sign is yet to be removed with the council saying Williams has applied to keep it up.

The council said it had been in touch with him to discuss the retrospective planning application and added that it would make a decision in the coming weeks. Norwich council said Williams had successfully applied to turn the property into a bed and breakfast.

Councillor Matthew Fulton-McAlister said local residents had made complaints about the restaurant sign.

On inspection in February, council workers found tables and chairs set up, along with advertising, however it said that Williams would not face action as it had found no evidence to show there had been a change of use, which would breach planning permission.

Williams previously ran Sakura on White Lion Street and then Ber Street, Norwich, before it closed in 2014. Upon its closure the restaurant’s address was changed on its Facebook page to Earlham Road, while its TripAdvisor listing showed a picture of Williams’ house.