Proposals to change the face of a seaside town centre have crossed its first hurdle after a committee approved the plans.
The Great Yarmouth Town Centre Masterplan has been two years in the making and councillors voted unanimously last night to move the plans to the next stage.
Councillors on the borough council's economic development committee were given a presentation by council officers on the latest version of the plans, after a draft version was put out to public consultation in January.
The leader of the council, Graham Plant, said: 'It is incumbent on the council and councillors to say we want change in the town.'
The masterplan has been developed by consultants at Carter Jones and is divided into six key objectives:
Strengthening the heart of the town centre – by 2025 it is hoped the area around King Street and Regent Road will be revitalised with new shops and businesses, and a leisure-based anchor, possibly a cinema, and bars, restaurants and cafes.
Improving the market and Market Place will boost trade and custom with new stalls and facilities, a repaved Market Place and an events space.
Transforming The Conge – the thoroughfare between the railway station and the Market Place will be improved with new mixed-use developments and a move away from its commercial and industrial use towards more residential.
Creating a sense of arrival at the town centre - improving the gate way to the town from the end of the Acle Straight, passing the rail station, towards the Fuller's Hill roundabout.
Unlocking the potential of Hall Plain – Creating development guide lines for the area, preserving the historical buildings sand refurbishing the area appropriately in the mind that if the Third River Crossing in approved, there will be considerably less traffic using the Haven Bridge.
Linking it all together – Improving the historic Rows and streets network.
The scheme has £1m allocated by the borough council to regenerate the area and the ambition is for significant public and private sector investment to make the dream a reality.
The plans will now be presented to a meeting of the full borough council on May 16 for their final approval.
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