Work to start on £24.3m Lowestoft town centre transformation

The project will see a new cultural quarter created in Lowestoft to drive footfall and reinvigorate the town centre, which has a shop vacancy rate almost double the national average.

It will see the Battery Green multi-storey car park and surrounding land on Marina Road transformed, with the creation of three 'landmark' buildings.

A conceptual image of the proposed Battery Green Civic Square in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

The site will feature a restaurant catering for 80 people, a civic square, pop-up bars, a café, escape rooms and climbing walls.

Part demolition of the existing Battery Green car park in Lowestoft will take place. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Work is expected to start on the scheme in the coming weeks, with the demolition of part of the car park, and the cultural quarter is due to be completed by spring 2026.

Architectural identity conceptual images for the Cultural Quarter project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Picture: Chaplin Farrant)

Hoardings have already been put up and the car park closed, with motorists directed to nearby car parks at Whapload Road and Clapham Road.

Proposed visualisation for the Flexible Events Hall and Restaurant as part of the Battery Green project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

The public toilets at Gordon Road will also close as part of the redevelopment, while East Suffolk Council’s customer services centre will move to the library.

Part demolition of the existing Battery Green car park in Lowestoft will take place. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The project - which will be known as Battery Green - has received £14.3m from the government's Towns Fund and £10m from East Suffolk Council's Capital Fund.

Preparing for the part demolition of the existing Battery Green car park in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Developers say the new site will create 74 full-time jobs, in addition to more during the construction phase.

Conceptual visualisation of the proposed Battery Green project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

Mark Camidge - of Chaplin Farrant, the Norwich-based architects involved in the project - said the scheme would be a "catalyst for the town moving forward."

East Suffolk Council cabinet member Toby Hammond. (Image: Submitted)

Toby Hammond, an East Suffolk Council cabinet member, said: "Battery Green will bring new facilities into the town centre and in combination with other regeneration projects which are also under way, this will help to attract visitors and businesses to Lowestoft and enhance the town for the benefit of local residents."

Proposed elevations for the Battery Green project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

REVIVING THE ZOMBIE TOWN

The project marks a welcome boost for the town, after recent figures showed Lowestoft's retail unit vacancy rate was the highest in the district - with more than a quarter of shops empty, significantly higher than elsewhere in the region.

Proposed visualisation for the community hall and green roof as part of the Battery Green project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)

It follows other positive developments, with plans for 45 new flats and five retail units at the vacant former Beales department store - which had been empty for five years - approved recently.

The vacant former Beales department store in Lowestoft. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The proposed 3D elevations view of what the former Westgate/Beales department store in Lowestoft could look like. Picture: Panther (VAT) Properties Ltd (Image: Panther (VAT) Properties Ltd)

A new creative hub is also being unveiled in the former Grade II listed Post Office building on London Road North, First Light Festival CIC is set to use the former Tesco Metro building - empty for five years - while national retailer JD Sports is behind plans for the former Chadds/Palmers department store that had been empty four years.

The former Post Office on London Road North in Lowestoft will reopen as an arts venue. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

A south east view of the proposed plans for the former Post Office in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant/East Suffolk Council (Image: Chaplin Farrant/East Suffolk Council)

Caroline Topping, Toby Hammond, Genevieve Christie, Laurence Edwards, Johnny Messum, Catherine Richards, Colin Stott, Jayne Knight, and representatives from the Marina Theatre, DanceEast and HighTide inside the former Tesco building in Lowestoft. Picture: East Suffolk Council (Image: East Suffolk Council)

The vacant Tesco Metro on London Road North in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Proposed visualisation for the Public Realm and Marina Centre as part of the Battery Green project in Lowestoft. Picture: Chaplin Farrant (Image: Chaplin Farrant)