The ground has been broken to start construction of Great Yarmouth’s exciting new state-of-the-art Marina Centre, with Great Yarmouth Borough Council sharing a video on social media in order to celebrate this exciting milestone with the community.
The council’s £26m investment will be a major boost to the economy and community for decades to come, acting as a catalyst for potential further investment and seafront regeneration, whilst supporting health and well-being for the whole borough.
With the piling of the foundations underway this winter, the steel structure will go up in spring, with cladding going on during summer and internal works and fit-out then commencing. It is scheduled to open in summer 2022.
The project is funded by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, plus £2.5m secured from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, via New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, £1.6m from Sport England, and £500,000 from Pooled Business Rates.
The construction process itself will support the local economy, with 75 per cent of the project’s supply chain being drawn from SME companies in Great Yarmouth. It will also create training and employment opportunities for people living locally.
Conservative Leader of the Council, Cllr. Carl Smith, said:
“Supporting both our economic and physical health, the new Marina Centre is a crucial part of our recovery as a place, benefitting the visitor economy and borough as a year-round anchor seafront attraction and an important community hub for the promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity".
The new Marina Centre will be a truly year-round anchor attraction, including a six-lane 25m pool with full disabled access and suitable for competitions, a confidence water area and learner pool with moveable floor, leisure water with fun play features, two water flumes and a splash pad.
The complex will also be equipped with a 100-station health and fitness gym with views to the sea, four-court multi-purpose sports hall, indoor climbing zone for all ages, a café with fabulous views to the beach, and accessible multi-use flexible community spaces that can be used for a wide range of activities and services.
Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, said:
“This ground-breaking is superb and exciting news for Great Yarmouth. It shows that this project is progressing, that we’re investing in the borough, and everyone can look forward to having a new centre that’s state-of-the-art which will benefit the economy and our residents and visitors for many years to come.”
The scheme will also create 10 work experience placements and three mentorships for young people progressing careers in the sector, while four placements will be created for people who are out of work, to provide them the opportunity to refresh their skill-sets, gain current experience, and learn more about career pathways in the construction industry.
