About 1st East
What is 1st East?
1st East is one of 19 Urban Regeneration Companies (URC) in England (3 have recently changed to Economic Development Companies). It has been set up to transform the brownfield and waterfront areas of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. These are mainly in big cities like Liverpool and Sheffield. Getting this status is a major achievement for Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. It has involved a lot of hard work by all four councils and EEDA and it shows that everyone is committed to making the two towns prosperous once more.
What is a URC?
An Urban Regeneration Company is an unusual company in that it is led by the private sector but receives funding from the Government. This combination has proved to be successful in focusing resources to overcome particularly difficult areas that need developing. They produce a powerful and coherent single vision for the future of their areas and co-ordinate its implementation.
Who funds and who will run 1st East?
1st East is funded by the Regional Development Agency (EEDA), the Homes & Communities Agency and the four local authorities involved – Norfolk, Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. It is run by a private-sector led board. It has a small staff and a chief executive with a track record of delivering big regeneration projects.
The company is run by a Board of 16 directors
• the Chairman, who comes from the private sector
• four local authority nominees – one from each of Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council
• an East of England Development Agency (EEDA) nominee
• an Homes & Communities Agency nominee
• two community nominees
• six further private sector members
• the Chief Executive
In addition, there is one official observer from the Government
What will it do?
The 1st East vision is:
"Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth will become great places to live, work and visit, building on the unique opportunities of their east coast locations.
At the heart of our vision is a determination to provide a supportive culture for business, and to develop a particular expertise in the environmental economy, on and offshore.
People who value their environment, place and quality of life will want to live here.
The two towns will be confident of their role and function and free of the need for any special assistance status.”
1st East's role is to provide confidence, overcome barriers and unlock economic potential. We will do this through a comprehensive regeneration plan that gives clear guidance for future public and private investment.
1st East aims to generate economic growth and create jobs by coordinating public and private sector development in the brownfield and waterfront areas of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.
Why do we need it?
The two towns have lost a lot of jobs and have major areas of derelict or under utilised land. Coordinated use of these land assets will attract better housing, offices and leisure activities and these in turn will provide new jobs and a better living space for the two communities.
Where will it operate?
In Lowestoft: Lake Lothing, the Fish Dock and Ness Point. There are six action areas in the draft area action plan.
In Great Yarmouth: North Quay, Cobholm, Southtown, South Quay, South Denes, Runham/Vauxhall. There are six action areas in the draft area action plan.
It covers around 135ha, mainly of industrial land which can be developed and 26 kilometres of waterfront prime for regeneration. Not everything in the URC areas needs redeveloping, but a lot does.
Does that mean people outside the 1st East area lose out?
No, the aim of the URC is to encourage economic activity so that will create more jobs and make the run down areas more attractive places to live and work. That benefits everyone.
What has happened so far?
1st East asked a lot of people their views about what they wanted to see happen. 1st East then produced a range of options about how the areas could be redeveloped and the public had their say. The ideas were then refined into two draft area action plans - one for each town. These have been approved by the local councils.
Who looks after the community interests?
The URC has a Board consisting of 16 directors. Two of these were nominated by the Local Strategic Partnerships – who represent the diverse groupings of local interest. Four councillors are also members of the Board.
Will we have a say in what the masterplan looks like?
Yes. Extensive consultations took place in both towns in early 2006 to ensure businesses, organisations and residents had a chance to share their visions on the future of the area.
How long will it take for 1st East to make a difference?
It usually takes up to a year before the masterplan is finalised, and longer for the first developments to happen. However, there are already some significant projects in the making, Eastport in Great Yarmouth and OrbisEnergy - an Offshore Renewable Energy Centre in Lowestoft.