New water and leisure complex on Golden Mile set to boost year-round tourism and community well-being

On Thursday, December 13, Great Yarmouth Borough Council agreed recommendations in a report which moves the project to the next stage of development and confirms the site of the existing Marina Centre, on Marine Parade, as the proposed location for the new facility.

To reflect the prime seafront location and the council's ambition to create a truly year-round regional "anchor attraction" on the Golden Mile, the new water and leisure complex will now include: two water flumes, a splash pad, confidence water area, learner pool, and a six-lane 25m pool. The complex will also be equipped with a state-of-the-art health suite with sauna, steam and spa; a 100-station health and fitness gym, indoor climbing facility; fitness and spin studios; sports hall; soft play area and a café with fabulous views over the famous beach.

Whilst the final architectural design of the new complex is yet to be completed, preliminary designs indicate the new complex will fit within the existing centre footprint, with building works scheduled to take place between late 2019 and summer 2021.

The ambition for the final design is an environmentally-sustainable building that is sympathetic to the Golden Mile with improved sight lines and linkage to the seafront. The indicative cost for the development is £20m to 26m. The next phase of the project will see the council progressing its investment plan with sources of funding from the council as well as external funding sources.

There will also be a series of public and stakeholder engagement opportunities from January 2019 onwards when the principles behind preliminary designs for the complex will be available for comment. Local residents and businesses will be encouraged to view the preliminary designs to help shape the look and feel of the final design, together with the brand name for the new water and leisure complex.

There will also be a further opportunity for engagement as part of the pre-application consultation phase, in readiness for a planning application later in 2019.

Cllr Graham Plant and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the political group leaders, said: "The council is signalling its clear ambition to make a major once-in-a-generation investment for the benefit of the seafront and the whole borough for up to 40 years, building upon the significant investment that's already taking place on the seafront and in the wider area. 

"Great Yarmouth is Norfolk's top seaside destination, with its annual visitor economy now worth £625m, supporting 36 per cent of the local employment workforce - an estimated 12,000 jobs. This exciting regional water and leisure complex would be a game-changer for the Golden Mile as a new anchor facility, enhancing the year-round visitor economy, acting as a catalyst for further investment, and supporting health, well-being and fitness opportunities for people across the borough.   

"This water and leisure complex will also be an important community hub for the promotion of both indoor and out of door physical activity, enabling users to be fit and active and thereby part of ill health prevention measures supporting health and well-being. To that end we are in discussion with the Clinical Commissioning Group and Public Health to ensure this important facility contributes to the health and well-being of our residents."