Detailed designs have been completed for renovation of the Grade II* listed Winter Gardens on Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council, working with stakeholders, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Norwich’s John Innes Centre and the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability, says it is now ready to appoint a main contractor.

The run-down building is the UK’s last surviving Victorian glasshouse on a seaside promenade.

In its renovation, the council, which is aiming for BREEAM Excellent, plans to reduce life-cycle costs and increase the asset value, as well as improve the visitor experience.

Leader of the council Cllr Carl Smith said: ”We have set incredibly hight standards for work on the ambitious regeneration of the Winter Gardens.

”With these detailed and cutting-edge designs, we are determined to ensure we have a nationally significant landmark building here on the seafront in Great Yarmouth that is at the heart of the town’s life, economy and historical legacy. It will provide a unique experience for residents and visitors for decades to come.”

The procurement process has begun for the construction and an enabling works package is expected to start later this year.  

The work will seek to restore original features, including cast and wrought ironwork and lost details of timber screens.

Iain Robertson, executive director major projects, who is leading on the construction delivery at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ”Working with our stakeholders, we have spent the last six months working through detailed designs for the Winter Gardens.

”The Winter Gardens, which is on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register, is a bespoke and complex project of international and national significance with the key objective to save the building from further deterioration – so time is of the essence.

”We have comprehensive, imaginative and exciting planting strategies and have been guided by invaluable assistance from stakeholders and partners including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Cambridge University, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and others.

”Apart from working to save the building, the team aims to create an all-year-round destination and a facility for the inclusion of the local community which is focused on free access for local people.”

The project has attracted £12.3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £4m from the Government’s Town Deal Fund.

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