Demolition work has begun on South Denes Road to help create a new £18 million Operations and Maintenance campus for Great Yarmouth, a project set to boost the regions offshore energy sector.

The venture, being delivered by Norfolk County Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Port Authority (Peel Ports), with the project aiming to capitalise on the offshore renewables sector off the east coast, and the Enterprise Zone covering Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

The initiative is a key investment opportunity under Great Yarmouth’s Town Deal and the council’s strategy for economic growth; hoping to provide a boost to the local economy, supporting the construction of new homes, and helping the area’s employment.

Deputy leader of Norfolk County Council and cabinet member for growing the economy Cllr Graham Plant said “The offshore energy sector provides Great Yarmouth and Norfolk with arguably the single most important economic opportunity for a generation. Oil and Gas has been a mainstay of the local economy for over 50 years and the recent emergence of offshore renewables has presented Great Yarmouth’s port, its supply chain and its skills base with the chance of enjoying hugely significant growth and investment.

Preparing the site for further development, aided by the creation of Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing, we hope to stimulate much needed housing and employment growth, supporting our environmental goals and collective recovery from the pandemic through investment in green energy.”

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “After 50-plus years in the industry, it’s with pride that we say Great Yarmouth is recognised as England’s energy sector capital.

Alongside the Third River Crossing, Market Place investment and the new Marina Centre redevelopment, this infrastructure investment will provide further potential for the borough, positively impacting local businesses and offering job opportunities to residents as Great Yarmouth’s regeneration and economic growth continue to develop.”

The venture seeks to utilise land owned by the borough council at the southern tip of the South Denes peninsula, having already received £6 million funding from New Anglia LEP’s Getting Building Fund. It hopes to make the area more attractive for further investment, particularly in the offshore wind farm sector.

The first phase would enable demolition works to commence, and enable 170m of river quay refurbishment and upgrading, whilst also creating new vessel pontoons and a revised road layout.

Subject to planning permission, this could be completed by Summer 2022, ahead of the completion of Great Yarmouth’s third river crossing.

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