A major regeneration project is set to transform a disused factory site in Lowestoft, bringing up to 500 new homes and more than 16,000 square metres of employment space to the town.
East Suffolk Council’s Strategic Planning Committee has approved plans for the former Jeld Wen factory site on the Kirkley Waterfront — a key step in delivering the Council’s Local Plan aim of redeveloping brownfield land.
The site has stood empty for years due to complex development conditions, but improved access from the new Gullwing Bridge and updated road links have made the project more viable. The Council recently published a revised Kirkley Waterfront Planning Position Statement to reflect these changes and encourage investment.
Councillor Mark Packard, Cabinet Member for Planning and Coastal Management, said the decision marks “a great result for Lowestoft and East Suffolk,” adding that the scheme will bring much-needed homes, jobs, and infrastructure while tackling a site previously blighted by neglect and anti-social behaviour.
He also highlighted the wider challenge of meeting a sharp rise in government housing targets, noting that progress on brownfield regeneration is slow and costly but vital for the community.
The Strategic Planning Committee, which reviews the area’s largest developments, called an extraordinary meeting to consider the proposal. Councillors from both the North and South Planning Committees took part, with the vast majority voting in favour and one abstention recorded.
Detailed designs and further approvals are expected in the near future before construction can begin.
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