People invited to take virtual tour of new Marina Centre as planning application is backed by committee

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is getting set to build a new water and leisure complex in place of the old Marina Centre on the seafront. This once-in-a-generation investment, estimated at £25.9m, will be a major year-round boost to the economy whilst supporting community health and well-being across the borough for decades to come.

Following significant project development and positive public engagement, full council made a decision in June to allocate funding to demolish the old centre and build and open the new complex, subject to planning permission. Tonight (Wednesday), the Development Control Committee resolved to approve the planning application.

Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2020, with the new complex open during summer 2021. In the meantime, to give people a sneak peek inside the exciting new facility, the council has released a five-minute walk-through video on its social media channels. Watch the video on You Tube. 

The designs reflect the prime seafront location and the council's ambition to create a truly year-round "anchor attraction", including a six-lane 25m pool with full disabled access and suitable for competitions and galas, 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 health suite with sauna, steam and spa, 100-station health and fitness gym with views to the sea, four-court multi-purpose sports hall, fitness and spin studios, indoor climbing zone for all ages, and a café with fabulous views to the beach.

Over the coming weeks, there will continue to be activity at the old building during the decommissioning and decanting process, preparing the old building for redevelopment and erecting hoardings for the scheduled demolition to start this winter.

To decorate the hoardings, the public are asked to send to the council any historic photographs they own of the site and its vicinity, including of the old Marina Centre, Marina Theatre and Lido. People are also invited to submit their Great Yarmouth holiday snaps from across the decades. Please send high-resolution scanned copies to press@great-yarmouth.gov.uk. By submitting, you confirm that you own copyright of the photo(s) and give permission for use on the hoardings.

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the main political groups, said: "This decision of the Development Control Committee is an important step in bringing forward this amazing state-of-the-art water and leisure complex, which will benefit the seafront and whole borough for up to 40 years, acting as a catalyst for potential further investment and an important community hub for the promotion of indoor and outdoor activity.

"The video is very exciting, and I would encourage everyone to have a look, as it gives a realistic sense of what the impressive new Marina Centre will look like, both inside and outside. Public feedback has been valuable in helping to finalise the designs for this landmark building, which is an important part of our wider seafront regeneration programme.

"The project continues to move ahead. The council is progressing through the formal procurement processes to appoint a main contractor for the construction. In the coming weeks, people will see the hoardings go up and we encourage people to share with us their old photos of the site and their Great Yarmouth holiday snaps to use on the hoardings." 

For more information about the project, including a Q&A and the artist's impressions, please visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/golden-mile