Oswald’s Boatyard

Plans to regenerate a derelict site at the western end of Lake Lothing in Lowestoft have taken a further step forward with the submission of a detailed planning application by Vaughan English Associates Ltd (VEA).

The proposed development comprises 93 new high quality waterfront homes, (including 8 affordable homes), a new public library and community hall accessible to all local residents as well as a commercial unit and provision for a water taxi and moorings. The development accommodates a public footpath through and around the site which importantly will provide new public access to the waterfront.

1st East Chief Executive, Philip Watkins said “This will be one of the first significant developments to take shape in the regeneration area covered by 1st East. The design is bold and modern, but the developers have also taken into account the height and scale of other buildings in the adjacent area and the proposed design will form an impressive entrance to Lake Lothing at its western end.”

Representatives from VEA Ltd and 1st East were on hand to answer questions about the proposed development at a recent, well attended open public meeting at which local residents were able to express their views and see the detail of the designs.

The planning application is currently on hold pending the results of a cumulative flood risk study to look at the combined effects of the proposed developments around Lake Lothing including the Waveney Campus and Brooke Peninsula sites. Director of Development, Tomasz Kozlowski commented “Yes there are challenging issues relating to flooding in the Lake Lothing area but we are, and will continue to, work closely with the Environment Agency to come up with site specific solutions to reduce the risks.”


Waveney Campus

The southern side of Lake Lothing is set to be transformed with two major developments - Waveney Campus and Brooke Peninsula.

Waveney Campus is a £50 million investment - bringing together up to 1000 staff from Cefas, Waveney District and Suffolk County Council's in a landmark administrative and state-of-the-art scientific complex.

Following the Public Inquiry last year into the compulsory purchase of land in order to secure the site for Waveney Campus, both the Inspector and the Secretary of State have accepted the case made by the Campus partners at the inquiry. The evidence supported that there was no acceptable alternative site to be found in the town. In addition, the Inspector's report concluded that the Campus project will deliver to taxpayers best value for money. All but one of the current landowners has already reached agreement with Waveney District Council to sell their land and relocate. The single remaining plot will be compulsorily purchased, paving the way for the development to progress.


Brooke Peninsula

Just to the west of the Waveney Campus site, PRC, on behalf of CKS Developments have submitted an outline planning application for the development of the former Brooke Marine Works.

The proposal is for a mixed use scheme, bringing up to 650 quality waterfront homes as well as a Care facility, working quayside, a slipway for leisure craft, new marina and a new pedestrian cycle bridge across Lake Lothing linking in to the existing cycle network.

PRC presented the plans to two well attended resident's group meetings where local residents expressed their views relating to possible disturbance from construction traffic and the impact on the existing road infrastructure. PRC explained that the developer was exploring the option of bringing the material required to raise the land on the site from the port, reducing significantly the need for heavy traffic movements. They also explained that the proposed developments would be built in a phased way, including improving access and the local road network.

The planning application will be considered by Waveney District Council who will ultimately make the decision on the nature, size and extent of the proposed development that would be allowed.

Great Yarmouth has one of the oldest civic buildings in the country. Now the Tollhouse Museum, the building dates from 1260 and was once the town courtroom and gaol.