£24.9m programme to transform Lowestoft given the go ahead

Lowestoft Vision were delighted to hear the announcement this month that, following a two-year development process, a £24.9m programme to transform Lowestoft has received final Government approval enabling work to progress on five major regeneration projects.

The five projects are:

·       The Station Quarter, which will see both the former Post Office and front of the vacant Lowestoft railway station building fully restored and brought back into full working use.

·       The Cultural Quarter, which will see improvements to the Marina Theatre, the redevelopment of the Council’s current Customer Services Centre to provide a new cultural facility with associated eatery, and the redevelopment of the former Battery Green multi-storey car park to provide a new leisure offer.

·       The Historic Quarter which will focus on the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Town Hall along with enhancing the historic Scores.

·       The Seafront Vision which will see the redevelopment of Royal Plain including the Royal Plain fountains, Royal Green and associated public realm to complement the recently refurbished East Point Pavilion.

·       The Port Gateway project which will support the development of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) to secure Lowestoft’s future as an Operations and Maintenance hub for the offshore renewables sector.

The Lowestoft Town Investment Plan was developed in partnership with the Lowestoft Place Board, of which Lowestoft Vision has representation from Danny Steel, Chair of Lowestoft Vision. The board comprises representatives from public, private and voluntary organisations and is overseen by East Suffolk Council.

Danny Steel said: “I am proud to be representing our BID businesses on the Lowestoft Place board supporting the development of the Lowestoft Town Investment Plan and in particular the regeneration of Lowestoft town centre.

“I look forward to continuing to work with local businesses in the town to ensure we can make the most of the opportunities this investment will bring toward ensuring Lowestoft remains a great place to visit, work and shop.”

All five projects have now advanced to the design phase and in the coming months, residents, businesses and visitors will be able to view proposed designs and learn more about each project. 

The full funding was provisionally secured in March 2021, in which a Town Deal was agreed in principle with Government, subject to the completion of detailed businesses cases for each of the five projects. These were completed in March 2022 and all five projects have now received final approval from Government.

For more information go to: https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/news/24-9m-regeneration-programme-given-go-ahead/?utm_source=press+release