Development Update
Studies Commissioned
A number of important technical studies have
been commissioned for the priority regeneration areas in Great Yarmouth
and Lowestoft. Tenders were issued earlier in the year to invite
companies to bid to provide a range of information. Before
developers can be attracted it is important to gather information
such as whether the ground is contaminated and if so, how much it
will cost to remediate. We also need to understand the capacity
of the existing utilities (water, electricity, waste water) to take
increased development and, of course, what the traffic impact of
new homes and businesses would be.
Tomasz Kozlowski, Director of Development said “We were encouraged by the number and quality of submissions from the professional services sector for these particular studies. We went through a competitive process and evaluated the submissions with our partners and I’m confident that we have chosen the best companies to undertake these studies to drive the delivery agenda forward.”
The studies are part of the development process that normally would be undertaken by private sector developers but as Chief Executive, Philip Watkins explains, form part of 1st East’s role: “Our remit is to take some of the risk and cost out of the development process. Given the current market conditions and the general economic situation it’s important that we do all we can to make it easier for businesses to invest in regeneration.”
Green Light for Waveney Campus
Waveney Campus has
been given the go-ahead with the granting of planning permission
by Waveney District Council. A significant component of the regeneration
plans for Kirkley Waterfront, the building will house staff from
Cefas, Waveney District Council and part of Suffolk County Council.
Philip Watkins commented “Its very welcome news that the planning has been approved and testament to the hard work by the Campus Project Team. Overcoming flooding issues was the last obstacle and to achieve this reference was made to the computerised hydraulic model that was commissioned by 1st East. It provided the Environment Agency with the information they needed and the confidence to support the project and thereby pave the way for developments around Lake Lothing to progress.”
Marine Management Organisation Announcement
Back in December, 1st East was instrumental in co-ordinating public and private sector partners from across the region to pitch to the Government for the location of the new Marine Management Organisation. In November, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth were shortlisted as one of 7 possible locations around the U.K. The evaluation team were given a tour of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and then led by Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency, heard a series of presentations that highlighted the synergy between the MMO’s aims and those of the two towns - the skills and capabilities, transport and communications, quality of life and, in particular, the high quality accommodation that fitted their criteria and was immediately available. Unfortunately, the decision announced in February was that the Marine Management Organisation will be based on Tyneside.
In a letter confirming the decision, the Minister, Hugh Irranca-Davies said “As you know KPMG and my officials visited all the short listed locations to gather further information to help inform my decision. They found the visit to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft well organised and the presentations were well received….Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth presented a strong bid not least in terms of stakeholder clusters and availability of skilled labour…Once again, thank you for your interest and for the excellent work you and your team contributed to this process.”
Philip Watkins, 1st East Chief Executive said, "Naturally we are very disappointed that the Marine Management Organisation will not be coming to Lowestoft. Whilst of course we would have been delighted for the MMO to have come to the priority regeneration area in the East of England, we knew the odds favoured the areas identified in the Government's relocation strategy (The Lyons Report) which does not include East Anglia as a destination for these government offices. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth combined to put together a strong case involving a wide range of partners. Unfortunately we have not been successful on this occasion, but we wish the MMO well in its new location on Tyneside. Meanwhile, the regeneration plans for both towns are still on track and we will continue to work collaboratively with our partners to attract public and private sector investment to the two towns."
A number of important technical studies have
been commissioned for the priority regeneration areas in Great Yarmouth
and Lowestoft. Tenders were issued earlier in the year to invite
companies to bid to provide a range of information. Before
developers can be attracted it is important to gather information
such as whether the ground is contaminated and if so, how much it
will cost to remediate. We also need to understand the capacity
of the existing utilities (water, electricity, waste water) to take
increased development and, of course, what the traffic impact of
new homes and businesses would be. Tomasz Kozlowski, Director of Development said “We were encouraged by the number and quality of submissions from the professional services sector for these particular studies. We went through a competitive process and evaluated the submissions with our partners and I’m confident that we have chosen the best companies to undertake these studies to drive the delivery agenda forward.”
The studies are part of the development process that normally would be undertaken by private sector developers but as Chief Executive, Philip Watkins explains, form part of 1st East’s role: “Our remit is to take some of the risk and cost out of the development process. Given the current market conditions and the general economic situation it’s important that we do all we can to make it easier for businesses to invest in regeneration.”
Green Light for Waveney Campus
Waveney Campus has
been given the go-ahead with the granting of planning permission
by Waveney District Council. A significant component of the regeneration
plans for Kirkley Waterfront, the building will house staff from
Cefas, Waveney District Council and part of Suffolk County Council.Philip Watkins commented “Its very welcome news that the planning has been approved and testament to the hard work by the Campus Project Team. Overcoming flooding issues was the last obstacle and to achieve this reference was made to the computerised hydraulic model that was commissioned by 1st East. It provided the Environment Agency with the information they needed and the confidence to support the project and thereby pave the way for developments around Lake Lothing to progress.”
Marine Management Organisation Announcement
Back in December, 1st East was instrumental in co-ordinating public and private sector partners from across the region to pitch to the Government for the location of the new Marine Management Organisation. In November, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth were shortlisted as one of 7 possible locations around the U.K. The evaluation team were given a tour of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and then led by Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency, heard a series of presentations that highlighted the synergy between the MMO’s aims and those of the two towns - the skills and capabilities, transport and communications, quality of life and, in particular, the high quality accommodation that fitted their criteria and was immediately available. Unfortunately, the decision announced in February was that the Marine Management Organisation will be based on Tyneside.
In a letter confirming the decision, the Minister, Hugh Irranca-Davies said “As you know KPMG and my officials visited all the short listed locations to gather further information to help inform my decision. They found the visit to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft well organised and the presentations were well received….Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth presented a strong bid not least in terms of stakeholder clusters and availability of skilled labour…Once again, thank you for your interest and for the excellent work you and your team contributed to this process.”
Philip Watkins, 1st East Chief Executive said, "Naturally we are very disappointed that the Marine Management Organisation will not be coming to Lowestoft. Whilst of course we would have been delighted for the MMO to have come to the priority regeneration area in the East of England, we knew the odds favoured the areas identified in the Government's relocation strategy (The Lyons Report) which does not include East Anglia as a destination for these government offices. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth combined to put together a strong case involving a wide range of partners. Unfortunately we have not been successful on this occasion, but we wish the MMO well in its new location on Tyneside. Meanwhile, the regeneration plans for both towns are still on track and we will continue to work collaboratively with our partners to attract public and private sector investment to the two towns."
Third Crossing/RFA Decisions
After lobbying by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard, 1st East and
Suffolk County Council, the Highways Agency has published a feasibility
study into a third crossing of Lake Lothing in Lowestoft. The study,
by consultants Faber Maunsell, builds on work previously undertaken
for Suffolk County Council and 1st East which had narrowed the possible
options to two routes. The Highways Agency work has indentified
that of these, a westerly option (near to Brooke Peninsula) is the
best technical solution and provides the most direct link to the existing
spine roads.
The study also looks at proposed road infrastructure improvements, including a new southern access road to connect to the southern relief road which will help to unlock the regeneration potential of a number of sites on the southern shore of the lake. It proposes that the crossing would be formed with a lifting (bascule) bridge of a twin leaf steel construction that would give clearance for all shipping.
Major infrastructure schemes have to be identified by the Region as priorities. The Highways Agency study enabled the third crossing of Lake Lothing to be placed on the regional list for the first time in January of this year.
Chief Executive, Philip Watkins said “The study has identified that a third crossing is feasible, it has identified the best route and calculated the total cost of around £70 million of which £38 million is the bridge itself. Now that the bridge is on the regional list we are making a compelling economic case for its construction.” Mr Watkins added a note of caution “This is measurable progress but funding of large infrastructure projects is a notoriously slow process and there is a long way to go.”
The study also looks at proposed road infrastructure improvements, including a new southern access road to connect to the southern relief road which will help to unlock the regeneration potential of a number of sites on the southern shore of the lake. It proposes that the crossing would be formed with a lifting (bascule) bridge of a twin leaf steel construction that would give clearance for all shipping.
Major infrastructure schemes have to be identified by the Region as priorities. The Highways Agency study enabled the third crossing of Lake Lothing to be placed on the regional list for the first time in January of this year.
Chief Executive, Philip Watkins said “The study has identified that a third crossing is feasible, it has identified the best route and calculated the total cost of around £70 million of which £38 million is the bridge itself. Now that the bridge is on the regional list we are making a compelling economic case for its construction.” Mr Watkins added a note of caution “This is measurable progress but funding of large infrastructure projects is a notoriously slow process and there is a long way to go.”
Spring Competition
Enter our on-line competition for a chance to win a £20 Homebase
gift voucher!Just answer this simple question for your chance to win:
Who
is the Chair of the 1st
East Design Panel?(1st East Website) www.1steast.co.uk
Register your answer and update your details here!
Closing date 30th April 2009. Limited to one entry per person.
(The winner will be selected at random from the correct answers and will be notified by email).
Schools and Colleges Present their Regeneration Ideas
Three months of hard work by students from schools
and colleges across Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft
culminated in an event at Great Yarmouth Town
Hall, where the student groups presented their
ideas and proposals to an expert panel.The project, run by enterpriseGY/Enterprise Lowestoft and 1st East tasked the students with looking at the proposed regeneration plans for both towns - the schools focussing on a selected intervention area and the colleges looking at the overall regeneration plans. They were asked to think about how the plans would impact on their lives and future and come up with their own ideas as to what they would like to see happen. The groups were guided in their work by post-graduate students from the School of Architecture and Construction at the University of Greenwich, which the students visited last month (pictured).
On arriving in London they took a cruise on the River Thames to Greenwich where they had the opportunity to learn about the rich history and architecture of London's riverside. As part of the project, the student groups have been guided by post-graduate students from the School of Architecture and Construction at the University of Greenwich.
The students were welcomed to the University
by Vice-Chancellor Baroness Tessa Blackstone (centre) and Professor
Richard Hayward (left), Head of the School of Architecture and Construction.During the afternoon 1st East staff were on hand to work with the students and hear how they were progressing with their project ideas. Later in the afternoon the group visited the 02 to see how regeneration has revitalised the previously run down areas of Greenwich.
At the final event, Terry Easter, Mayor of Great Yarmouth was on hand to present the students with their certificates and each group also received an engraved glass award. Mark Bayley, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st East said "All the groups were very creative in their ideas and importantly had also done their background research by using questionnaires and other techniques to gather fellow student's views on the regeneration plans. We were all really impressed with the standard of the presentations which included models, artist’s impressions, video and computer generated imagery."
A short summary of each proposal is below:
Great
Yarmouth VA High School - A 'Dome'
complex on the seafront consisting
of 3 domes housing a water park,
sports centre and music venue (pictured right).Flegg High School - Remodelling the railway station in Great Yarmouth in a striking 'Rubik Cube' design and connecting the town to the waterfront with walkways, creating a 'Covent Garden' style performance area with public art in the road underpasses. Converting Havenbridge House (currently offices) into a quality hotel.
Oriel Specialist Mathematics and Computing College - Using the Ice House as the centre of an entertainment complex with 'Ice themed' bar, hotel and skating rink. Harnessing the river current to provide 'green' energy for the complex.
Acle High School - Environmental improvements tackling litter and a new sports and leisure complex.
East Norfolk Sixth Form College - a eurostyle shopping mall on Southtown Road and recreating a medieval quay with historic boats and houses.
Kirkley High School - transforming
Lowestoft High Street with a glass roof and solar panels and developing
the railway station including a shopping mall, in a similar style
to St Pancras Station in London. After the event the displays were taken over to the Market Gates Shopping Centre where students answered questions from members of the public on their proposals (pictured right).
Meet the Board - Kevin Horne
A local entrepreneur born and educated in Norfolk, Kevin joined
NWES as CEO in 1997 and has taken the agency from a turnover of £185k
and a staff of 4 to one of the UK’s most successful business
support organisations with a staff of 70, a £multi million
turnover and a strong asset base.He is the immediate past Chairman of the NFEA (National Federation of Enterprise Agencies); helped form and was the first Chairman of Enterprise East; worked with the governments PAT3 task force which resulted in the formation of the CDFA (Community Development Finance Association) – and served as an inaugural Director. As well as a Director of 1st East, he is also Chairman of The Exchange - a leading Education Business Link organisation.
He became a Chartered Director in 2005 and takes a special interest in Corporate Social Responsibility and its effect on “bottom line” performance.
He enjoys an active social life and is passionate in his support for Norwich City FC.
Quiz Triumph!
1st East entered a team in the second Annual Charity Quiz organised
by Great Yarmouth Rotary Club and held at the Town Hall in aid of the
Rotary Foundation and Palliative Care. After fierce competition
and a nail biting finish the team (Mark Bayley, Philip Watkins, Jason
Wells and Tim Leonard – (not pictured) won the Business Team
category by one point! The prize was a magnificent trophy shield.
No doubt they will be back to defend their title next year!Did You Know?
Great
Yarmouth is twinned with Rambouillet in France, which
is around 28 miles south west of Paris.Rambouillet is famous for the vast forest of the same name, as well as for the Château de Rambouillet which has hosted several international summits including the Kosovo peace talks. Great Yarmouth and Rambouillet Twinning Association was founded in 1956.
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