Celebrations planned to mark official opening of The Place in Great Yarmouth

The impressive new library and learning hub in the town's Market Place will be officially opened on Tuesday, May 13, with a range of activities, displays, taster sessions and tours for people to enjoy, on the day and throughout the week.

The stunning regeneration of the landmark building is now complete with the library fitted out and classrooms and public areas almost ready to open up.

Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''We are looking forward to welcoming the people of the borough to see for themselves just how impressive The Place is.

''Alongside our partners - Norfolk County Council, East Coast College and University of Suffolk (UOS) - the official opening will be a fabulous celebration to mark a hugely ambitious vision of what the future offers in Great Yarmouth.''

The Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Norfolk, will officially open The Place and opening speeches will be followed by light refreshments for more than 100 invited guests before the venue - in the former Palmers department store - welcomes the public inside at 11.30am.

There will be short guided tours of the library, adult learning facilities and registrar services for people to see what is on offer. There will also be displays featuring the history of the building, which dates back hundreds of years, and a display of photographs featuring some of Palmers' memorable window displays from its heyday.

The Place will also be hosting a mini family trail of scale models of the artworks which will form part of Great Yarmouth's new public art trail currently being installed and due to be officially opened early in the summer.

From Wednesday, May 14, East Coast College and UOS will be offering taster sessions for people to find out more about the courses and qualifications being offered at The Place.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships at Norfolk County Council, said: "The official opening will be a day of celebration for Great Yarmouth, as we bring fantastic learning opportunities and a new local library into the heart of the community.

''We expect The Place to have a major impact on the town, offering residents countless opportunities to enhance their skills in a modern facility that retains a real sense of its history."

Madeleine Moretta, Head of Adult Learning and ESOL at East Coast College, said: "We're really excited to launch our new range of adult and degree-level qualifications at The Place.

''To celebrate, we're offering a series of free taster sessions in British Sign Language, Science (for those pursuing a career in Healthcare), Floristry and Psychology, giving people the chance to explore what's on offer. Whether it's looking to upskill, learn something new, or simply try something for fun, there's something for everyone at The Place. Applications are now open, and with many courses free or funded, it's a great time to take the next step."

Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, said: "The opening of The Place University Centre is an exciting opportunity for Great Yarmouth and the wider area.

''The presence of our university will be felt in a variety of ways, such as enhancing our educational offer with a range of learning pathways from nursing degrees and apprenticeships. We are also looking to expand our collaborative relationships with regional businesses, through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs and a range of partnership opportunities designed to address workforce needs and support business growth."

Work at the 5,300 sqm, five-storey venue has been led by Morgan Sindall Construction and has sensitively retained the conservation area appearance of the building.

The £17m project was funded via £8.1m from the Government's Town Deal, with a further £3.4m from the Future High Streets Fund. East Coast College and University of Suffolk contributed £3.7m and Norfolk County Council £2.3m.

Councillor Smith said: ''The Place is one of the biggest regeneration projects the town has seen in recent years. It been incredibly complex to completely refurbish this historic building and I would like to thank our partners and the team at Morgan Sindall for their hard work in helping us realise our ambitions for our community.''

The new library at The Place opened to the public from May 6 and further information about the services and courses available at The Place can be found at www.gytheplace.co.uk