Hayley Mace Nearly two years after the closure of one of the last traditional boatyards on the southern Broads, a rundown area of Oulton Broad could soon be restored to its former glory and transformed with riverside homes.

Hayley Mace

Nearly two years after the closure of one of the last traditional boatyards on the southern Broads, a rundown area of Oulton Broad could soon be restored to its former glory and transformed with riverside homes.

Proposals to build more than 150 houses on the Pegasus Boatyard site in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, were withdrawn in December 2006 following local opposition.

Now revised plans for the site off Caldecott Road, which include 75 to 80 homes, about 50 moorings, an office building and a small wind turbine, are being drawn up by developers from Badger Building.

Many people living nearby objected to the original plans, which included a seven-storey housing block, but a meeting this week between developers and locals has shown that the new proposals are more of a success.

Edward Gilder, Badger Building's land and planning manager, said: “The scheme has now been substantially revised by halving the number of homes proposed - to around 80 - increasing the available space for the boatyard and introducing a prestigious waterfront office, which it is hoped can be powered by a wind turbine.

“During the course of the past two years, much additional work has been done to model the impacts of flooding and to ensure that all new homes on the site are adequately protected.”

Penny Forrest, chairman of the Oulton Broad Community Enterprise group, said: “This is a completely new plan, with a completely new architect and they have taken people's concerns into account.

“Currently it is a derelict piece of land, an eyesore and very dangerous - an accident waiting to happen - so this is an area that does need to be regenerated. And from what we have seen, my thoughts are that it looks very positive.”

But speaking on behalf of the Friends of Pegasus Boatyard group, Ian Northover Smith said there were still a number of concerns.

“The development that they are suggesting reduces the number of houses on site, but they have not made any provision for the boating facilities. They're more interested in the housing side.

“People come to Oulton Broad because of the sailing and the water and they have not really come up with anything to enhance the sailing facilities here,” he said.

Badger Building will now make a presentation to the Broads Authority, which will make a decision, when the formal plans are submitted, in the next few weeks.