£24.3m Cultural Quarter vision for Lowestoft to be discussed

A new restaurant catering for 80 people, a civic square, pop up bars and leisure uses are earmarked among £24.3m regeneration efforts to drive footfall in Lowestoft town centre.

An aerial conceptual image of the proposed Cultural Quarter in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

With plans validated in December, the scheme looks set to take a significant step forward in the next fortnight.

It comes after Lowestoft was awarded £24.9m from the government's £3.6bn Towns Fund in 2021 for five key projects in the heart of the town - with one of these regeneration schemes a new Cultural Quarter.

Conceptual image of the proposed public realm at night for the Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

This Cultural Quarter project - which is earmarked as costing £24.3m, with £14.3m from the government's Towns Fund and £10m from East Suffolk Council's Capital Fund - will see the existing Battery Green car park partly demolished along with the demolition of the Marina Centre building's north wing.

Separate plans will be discussed by East Suffolk's cabinet next week - with the council's current customer services centre being recommended to relocate to Lowestoft Library.

Conceptual image of the proposed Civic Square for the Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

With the development set to provide a new cultural and community hub with studio space for creative businesses; a competitive leisure complex; restaurant and landscape enhancements, this vision for "Battery Green car park and surrounding land on Marina Road" in Lowestoft is set to discussed by East Suffolk's planning committee this month.

It comes after "minor amendments" to the plans around "the highway, drainage and landscaping" for the project were made in March and April.

Conceptual image of the proposed Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

With the proposed site measuring "approximately 1.20 hectares (2.96 acres)", design and access and planning statements lodged by agents Chaplin Farrant on behalf of the applicant East Suffolk Council said: "This project aims to become the catalyst for bringing much needed increased vibrancy to Lowestoft town centre."

With the partial demolition works earmarked for September - provided plans get the go-ahead - it adds: "While part of the car park will be demolished, the scheme will retain a large section of it for leisure uses such as urban mini golf, against the clock games such as virtual reality and escape rooms and family activities such as soft play and indoor climbing."

Spring 2026 opening

With the plans currently "awaiting decision", the project timeline is "subject to planning permission, demolition and build" - earmarked for between spring 2024 to winter 2025, ahead of the buildings opening in spring 2026.

Proposed site elevations for the Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

A council spokesman said: "Lowestoft was awarded £24.9m from the government's £3.6bn Towns Fund in 2021 for five key projects in the heart of the town and one of the transformational regeneration schemes is a new Cultural Quarter at Battery Green.

"As part of this exciting programme, moving our Customer Service presence in the town will be necessary.

Proposed site elevations for the Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

"This project will introduce fantastic new facilities into the town centre for the benefit of local residents."