Communities invited to take centre stage on investment with survey to shape £25m Town Deal bid

With lots already underway, including major seafront and town centre regeneration, the area now has the opportunity to apply for up to £25m of Government investment known as a 'Town Deal', covering Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Bradwell.

A diverse Town Deal Board of local ambassadors from private, public and third sector organisations is writing the Investment Plan of ideas about how that money could be spent, in order to attract further investment and stage the revitalisation of our place in the wave of coronavirus.

After careful consideration of public feedback from the initial My Town survey, the Board is developing ideas for investment across four themes: Regeneration & Business Development, Skills & Aspiration, Arts, Culture & Tourism, and Connectivity & Sustainability.

Now they are inviting residents, businesses and others to take centre stage and to share their priorities for investment through a short survey entitled Our Place is Your Stage. By doing so, you will be part of shaping the Investment Plan, supporting a vibrant, attractive and unique place where more people choose to live, work, visit, do business and create.

The survey can be completed until Thursday, September 10 online. Paper survey forms are also available in Great Yarmouth Library. #OurPlaceYourStage

Chris Sargisson, vice chairman of the Town Deal Board and chief executive of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, said: "Our ambition is to take our place to the next stage: to re-invent public places, to tap into and grow a thriving arts and cultural scene, to support new homes, nurture new jobs, businesses, new opportunities to learn and grow, to make our people, businesses and visitors proud.

"These are really exciting times for our place. We are Norfolk's biggest seaside resort and England's offshore energy hub, with an incredibly rich cultural heritage. We have some great strengths and opportunities, which we're doing everything we can to maximise, and we're keen to put the community centre stage and hear your views as we take the next steps on this exciting journey. If you had £25m to invest in our place, what would you do?"

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council's main political groups, said: "As a council, we're doing everything we can to invest in our place. We've already seen the lovely Waterways restored with the help of volunteers, the exciting new Marina Centre is taking shape, and soon we'll have a welcoming new Market Place as part of the town centre regeneration.

"We're lucky to have such a high calibre and diverse membership of professional sector and place leaders on our Town Deal Board to write the Town Investment Plan, including strategic thought leaders, investors and entrepreneurs, academics and creatives. 

"The prospect of £25m Government investment, along with this fabulous partnership working, is a huge opportunity to support further investment and job prospects for communities, and we'd like as many people as possible to take part in shaping that Investment Plan by taking part in the survey."