Lowestoft town centre may see major regeneration

Tue 27 Apr 2010

Plans to regenerate Lowestoft town centre have been published for public consultation.

Outlining improvements for the town for the next 15 years, Waveney District Council hope the plans will make Lowestoft a better place to live, work and visit.

The Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour Area Action Plan provides a long-term vision which will see the development of new retail, leisure and tourist facilities.

Created in partnership with 1st East, an urban regeneration company, the plans include details of a new hotel in Peto Square and intentions to move the railway station to accommodate a taxi, bus and bike meeting point.

If the regeneration goes ahead it will see 1,500 new homes built in the region, as well as the creation of 1,000 jobs, with an emphasis on the energy sector.

The plans have already been through two rounds of public consultation and discussions and the council hopes that the refined plans published today will help share their vision of the future of Lowestoft.

Richard Tinham, commercial partner at Winckworth Sherwood, said: "The regeneration of coastal towns such as Lowestoft provides an excellent opportunity for local government to attract private sector funding to address issues such as economic decline, unemployment and the continuing need for affordable housing.

"The recently completed Outer Harbour scheme at Great Yarmouth demonstrates the scale of what can be achieved when there is a will in the community."