RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

East of England Plan 97
POLICY GYL1: Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Key Centres for Development
and Change
The strategy for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft is to promote the comprehensive regeneration of the two towns,
capitalising on their strengths and protecting and enhancing their environmental assets. Local Development
Documents and other strategies should pursue this strategy by:
• Promoting radical change in the economy building on the area’s established sectors and diversifying into new
and emerging sectors including:
– the renewable energy cluster, building on offshore engineering skills;
– a more diverse tourism cluster, based on the resort and leisure role of the towns, the proposal for a casino at
Great Yarmouth and proximity to the Broads;
– environmental technologies and the wider environmental economy furthered by establishing a research and
teaching centre supported by further and higher educational institutions and others; and
– port and related activities strengthening links with the rest of Europe.
• Encouraging an urban renaissance by identifying priority areas and projects for brownfield redevelopment to
achieve economic, physical and social regeneration in inner urban areas and taking advantage of key waterfront
sites. Priority will be given to regeneration projects that can assist in dealing with concentrations of deprivation.
• Delivering at least 11,800 additional dwellings in line with the Policy H1 to support a healthy housing market,
assist the regeneration of brownfield sites and meet local affordable housing needs.
• Promoting improvements on key transport corridors into the area and between the towns, together with
measures to relieve congestion, improve access to regeneration areas, and enable a significant increase in
public transport, walking and cycling.
13.51 The key centres for development and change encompass the built up areas of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Both
towns benefit from high quality beaches, proximity to the Broads and an important built heritage, which have traditionally
attracted large visitor numbers, but face challenges including high unemployment, pockets of deprivation and areas
vulnerable to tidal flooding events.
13.52 Development of existing industries and diversification into new and emerging sectors which make the most of the towns’
environmental and locational assets, combined with a healthy housing market and improvements in accessibility, will
contribute towards economic, social and physical regeneration. The focus will be on brownfield redevelopment to
achieve regeneration and urban renaissance, whilst protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment and
avoiding any adverse impact notably on the Winterton-Horsey Dunes and Broads Special Areas of Conservation, and the
Great Yarmouth North Denes and Broadland Special Protection Areas. The continuation of management measures to
protect the Little Tern colony at Great Yarmouth North Denes will be essential.
13.53 The two ports offer scope for further development of maritime related industries and the ability to act as gateways to the
rest of Europe. In particular, Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour, Eastport, will be a significant contributor to job growth and
provide opportunities for improved links with the rest of Europe.
13.54 Local Development Documents for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft should be complementary to ensure a cohesive spatial
strategy for the two towns. 1st East, the Urban Regeneration Company, is a driving force behind regeneration. The
company is preparing Area Action Plans with Great Yarmouth and Waveney Councils, which will focus on spatial planning