Give more to North Suffolk urges report
A NEW report is calling for greater resources to be given to north Suffolk and south east Norfolk in a bid to attract new industries and combat long-term decline.
A NEW report is calling for greater resources to be given to north Suffolk and south east Norfolk in a bid to attract new industries and combat long-term decline.
The study, released yesterday, calls for the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth area to be recognised as a priority area for economic regeneration.
It puts forward a number of actions that could be taken to enhance the future of the two towns and their surrounding areas.
To combat long-term decline the report points to the need to encourage new industries by providing educational resources, new housing and better transport links, and urges local authorities, businesses and communities to work together.
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Key recommendations from the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Development Framework study include:
N Supporting the area's traditional industrial base, particularly port-related activities such as food processing, energy, transport and tourism;
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N Building on the established offshore oil and gas industry to diversify into renewable energy and related industries;
N Strengthening the higher and further education institutions to encourage the development of new environmental technologies;
N Promoting an urban renaissance by developing brownfield sites in both towns;
N Exploring the regeneration benefits to be gained from further housing;
N and improving the transport infrastructure into and between the two towns.
In recognising similar problems and opportunities facing Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and the common threads in development policies already under way, the study urges collaboration between the two towns.
It recommends a number of options for a joint approach to regeneration including a partnership of public and private sectors.
If the study's recommendations are taken up, the area could see a new research and teaching centre for renewable energy and environmental technology.
The findings from the study will be passed to the East of England Regional Planning Panel for consideration.
Chairman of the panel, Roy Davies, said: "We will be using the study to form the development of land use, transport and spatial policies for the area.
"There is no doubt that the towns of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft are in need of regeneration but, as the study makes clear, they also have strengths we should build on and opportunities that should be grasped to achieve this."
The study was produced by SQW Limited, land use consultants, and Campbell Reith Hill, for Suffolk County Council, Norfolk County Council, Waveney District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Go East, East of England Development Agency and East of England Regional Assembly as part of the current Regional Planning Guidance.
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david.lennard@eadt.co.uk
