Cultural+vision

The following cultural vision and the seven point core strategic vision outline the thinking behind the plan, which is to engage the population in a cultural change based on establishing a new sense of place to which people feel they belong.

// "By 2025 the Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour area will be an outstanding place to live, work and visit, building on its unique location between the North Sea and the Broads. The area will have a strong economy and a supportive culture for business with particular expertise in the renewable energy and environmental sectors both on and off shore. //

// People will choose to live and work in Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour because of its job opportunities, high quality environment, heritage, sense of place and quality of life. The area will boast a variety of housing options to support the needs of a demographically diverse population. Existing and new residents will benefit from high quality amenities including town centre retail, culture, education, leisure and community facilities. The area will boast attractive waterfront areas to the sea, Lake Lothing and Broads, whilst the area will continue to operate as a successful port. Peto Square will provide a heart to Lowestoft, connecting the town centre to the waterfront and sea front and will be a place where people will want to spend time. //

// The area will benefit from better connections for pedestrians, cyclists and traffic with increased access to the water frontage, linkages across Lake Lothing and throughout the AAP area. There will be strong linkages to other parts of the town and the area will be fully served by public transport that will revolve around an interchange hub at the reconfigured Lowestoft Station. Development in the area will maximise strategic maritime connections between the North Sea and the Broads. Development around Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour will conserve and enhance biodiversity and create wildlife corridors to ease migration and expansion of habitats. //

// Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour will have led the way in ensuring development is sustainable with buildings that are highly efficient in terms of water, energy and waste. Despite increased risk of flood from climate change the area will be safe for residents and users alike due to a strategic approach to managing and mitigating flood risk across the AAP area." //

The Core Strategy Vision

1 A desirable place to live

Lowestoft will be a clean, attractive, vibrant and progressive place to live, work and visit. As the main town, most additional housing development will have taken place here and a broader range of retailing, employment, services and facilities provided for a wide catchment area.

2 Relationship with Yarmouth

As part of a sub-regional vision with Great Yarmouth, the regeneration of the towns will have been addressed through a complementary and integrated approach to the shared issues of geographically remote and coastal locations, economic and social deprivation. The towns will retain their important District/Borough roles as the main towns but they will also complement each other through their differences. Their sub-regional function will have been enhanced through improved transport linkages between them and beyond. The synergy of the sub-region will have raised the status and profile of each town.

3 Mixed uses

The Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour area of Lowestoft will be regenerated with a thriving mix of uses throughout the day and evening, integrated with the seafront and shopping streets to the north and south. There will be public access to the water frontage and public spaces for people to meet and play. Connection between the north and south of the town will have improved and measures to protect against the risk of flooding will be in place. The port will have top quality freight handling and distribution facilities, fabrication, services and facilities for the offshore industry. The port will also have a role as a gateway to Europe for trade and as a hub as part of an integrated transport network.

4 Ness Point Area

Ness Point, as the most easterly point in Britain, will have a nationally high profile. It will be an important tourism destination with high quality links to the historic High Street area. The area will provide a nationally important cluster for renewable energy activity and businesses in the form of a PowerPark; building on the success of the Gutliver wind turbine and the OrbisEnergy accommodation for renewable energy related companies.

5 Tourism

The attraction of the beaches, coast and the Broads will continue to provide an income for the tourism industry. The town will offer a range of indoor and outdoor facilities and high quality accommodation to meet the needs of local people and tourists all year.

6 Education and well being

Lowestoft will provide an important role in further education and the development of skills. Deprivation will have been reduced in those areas of the town suffering from the highest levels. People will be healthier, with improved access to health facilities and homelessness will have reduced.

7 Travel

Travel within the town will be easier, with a much higher percentage of the population walking and cycling for shorter trips. Public transport will have improved as the status of Lowestoft as a Regional Transport Node is recognised. There will be improved rail and bus links with other urban centres in the region and with London and to national networks. The frequency and quality of bus services within and beyond the town will be good and integrated with rail services. In particular, linkages along the A12 with Great Yarmouth will be strengthened.