The spatial response

Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft

A leading centre for offshore energy

Assets and opportunities
  • attractive biodiversity, landscape and coastline providing major tourism opportunities
  • unique built heritage and history
  • emerging economic catalysts in Great Yarmouth, with EastPort and offshore renewable energy in Lowestoft supported by OrbisEnergy
  • a critical mass of regeneration opportunities with over 300 hectares of land available for redevelopment within the next ten years, including 26 kilometres of water frontage.
Constraints
  • road and rail connectivity to major markets and a perceived poor image reduce the attractiveness of both towns for new business investment
  • below average percentages of the population with NVQ4 or above qualifications and significant numbers with no formal qualifications at all
  • high levels of deprivation, with average earnings below both county and regional averages
  • inadequate supply of quality affordable housing
  • a need to manage issues of coastal and fluvial flooding effectively.
Strategic ambitions
  • expansion of the higher and further education offer through the existing colleges, with support from the University of East Anglia and University Campus Suffolk
  • development of the EastPort outer harbour to provide modern port facilities and major employment opportunities
  • improving the tourism offer and including development of a large casino and associated investment in high-quality hotel, entertainment and leisure facilities
  • delivery of major physical restructuring as set out in the 1st East area action plan.

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