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."
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.”
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).
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).
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.
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!
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.
Homes and Communities Agency
Waveney District Council
Suffolk County Council
East of England Development Agency
Norfolk County Council
Great Yarmouth Borough Council