Great Yarmouth Borough Council is national award finalist for driving economic growth

The borough council was one of nine finalists shortlisted in the Driving Growth category of the 2019 LGC Awards, run by the Local Government Chronicle, with Great Yarmouth subsequently announced as a highly commended finalist at the awards ceremony in London on March 13, 2019.

This shortlisting recognises Great Yarmouth's innovative work with partners to support energy investment at the top-performing Enterprise Zone sites at South Denes and Beacon Park, and projects to boost Great Yarmouth town centre through the Town Centre Masterplan and the Shopfront Improvement grant scheme.

It also recognises council projects that are helping to bring forward new homes, including delivery of the A47/A143 link road that has better connected a key growth location, and the East Wood housing scheme being developed by the council's trading company, Equinox Enterprises Ltd, at Beacon Park.

In a joint statement, Cllr Graham Plant and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the political group leaders, said: "Driving growth, investment and job-creation is a top priority for the borough, and this is reflected in the council's proactive work with partners in a range of areas, including supporting offshore energy, our vital tourism economy, improving infrastructure and enhancing the town centre.

"Supporting the economy is about supporting communities and improving lives. This is embedded in the council's everyday business - and the scope of this work goes far beyond the projects that it was possible to include within the award entry. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the council teams and partners involved - their total commitment is a credit to the council and to the communities it serves."

Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive, said: "The council's focus is delivering for communities through place-shaping with our partners. Driving inclusive growth is absolutely central to that important work, and this is reflected in this exciting national recognition, which is a tribute to the commitment of officers and partners, and the ambition and direction of members.

"We understand it is unusual for a council to be shortlisted in this category for an entry covering multiple projects, rather than a single project, so we are pleased that the judges are impressed with both the individual projects and the council's strategic approach, vision and work programme. This is very much a team success, and I'm so proud of everyone involved."