1st East is one of only 22 urban regeneration companies in England. It has been set up to transform the brownfield and waterfront areas of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and stimulate new investment in the two towns.

An urban regeneration company is led by the private sector but receives funding from the UK Government. This has proved to be successful in other parts of the country, focusing resources to overcome challenges and obstacles in particularly difficult areas.

An urban regeneration company produces a powerful and coherent single vision for the future of its area and co-ordinates its implementation.

1st East is funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), English Partnerships and the four local authorities involved - Norfolk, Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. It is run by a private-sector led board of 15 directors, has a chief executive and a small staff with a track record of delivering big regeneration projects.

Key Facts

English Partnerships research shows that overall investment in urban regeneration areas gives higher returns than investment in all other U.K. Property areas (over the past ?ve years, growing at a rate of 16.7% year on year, versus 15.1%).

Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth have the advanced engineering skills, offshore project management expertise and the experience of delivering Britain's largest offshore windfarm, at Scroby Sands, Great Yarmouth.

The area generates 8% of its energy needs from renewable sources – twice that of any other U.K. region. There are currently £6.7 billion of offshore wind projects planned in the U.K.

Gateways to Europe - Lowestoft is the most easterly point in the U.K. and the region is only 100 miles from mainland Europe with fast and ef?cient maritime links on the Trans European Network (TEN) route. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth are identi?ed in the East of England Plan as priority areas for economic regeneration and key centres for development and change.

Every year there are more than 5 million visitors to Great Yarmouth and just under 4 million to the Waveney district, bringing in almost £700 million to the local economy, including a signi?cant proportion of tourists from the U.S.A.

Access via Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Colleges to the new University Campus Suffolk, formed jointly by Essex University and the University of East Anglia.

Investment

£16.3m - inteGREAT
An investment designed to improve the special characteristics and features of Great Yarmouth town centre, the heritage and seafront areas. St George's Park in Great Yarmouth is currently undergoing a £2.1 million transformation.

£14.7 million - Waveney Sunrise Scheme
A major public realm project set to transform large areas of Lowestoft's shopping and seafront areas.

£50 million - Eastport UK
Construction of Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour, set to play a pivotal role in the future development of the UK's offshore industry.

£9.1 million - Orbis Energy
A flagship building for renewable wind, wave and tidal power across the East of England.

£50 million - Waveney Campus
A landmark administrative and scienti?c complex to house 1,000 staff from the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences (Cefas), Waveney District Council (WDC) and part of Suffolk County Council (SCC).

£18.5 million - Market Gates shopping centre
Extension of the Market Gates shopping centre in Great Yarmouth by Miller Developments.