Green councillors who recently took control of Norwich City Council have removed armrests from park benches on Mousehold Heath as part of a policy to eliminate so-called "anti-homeless architecture," allowing rough sleepers to lie down more comfortably. The move, unveiled by cabinet member Jenny Knight in an Instagram video, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians and local residents, who argue it does nothing to address homelessness and instead risks creating "homeless hotspots" while inconveniencing elderly and disabled bench users.

Labour group leader Carli Harper called the scheme "frankly bonkers" and urged the Greens to prioritise finding accommodation for rough sleepers over altering furniture, joking that the next step might be "addresses for benches, so rough sleepers can order Deliveroo." Mousehold Heath, a 184-acre area popular with dog walkers, has previously seen tent encampments nearby, and residents including a 73-year-old local and a 57-year-old dog walker said housing, not benches, was the real solution. It remains unclear whether the policy will be rolled out to other benches across the city, and Cllr Knight and Green group leader Lucy Galvin did not respond to requests for comment.