Waveney resolves to approve Lowestoft waterfront regeneration plans

Developer Cardy Construction applied to the Council in November 2013 for permission to demolish existing industrial units at the 12 hectare Brooke Peninsula business park and build a residential-led mixed-use development across the site and six hectares of adjacent sports pitches and wildlife habitat.

The Assael-Architecture-designed plans include the construction of up to 850 homes, or 950,000 square feet of residential space, whichever is greater; up to 19,000 sq ft of commercial space; a marina building; and a primary school. Many of the waterfront homes would be on stilts, to protect them from flooding.

The scheme is expected to result in the loss of 38% of the Brooke Yachts and Jeld Wen county wildlife site (CWS). The loss of CWS land is proposed to be addressed through the active management and enhancement of the remainder of the site, and a financial contribution is proposed to enable the relocation of outdoor sports pitches to a nearby, Council-owned site.

The plans were on the agenda for a meeting of the Council's development control committee on 15 October. Recommending the approval of the application, subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement, a planning officer's report (43-page / 487 KB PDF) said: "The proposal will regenerate a large area of underused and vacant brownfield land in the heart of Lowestoft and will act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area. It will set the standard for subsequent detailed applications to ensure that the area is transformed into a vibrant, inclusive community that is integrated with adjacent areas and provides access to employment, services and facilities in a high quality environment."