New Vision for Suffolk Waterfront

Have your say on plans for Kirkley Waterfront.

Residents are invited to give their views on a new planning document which will help bring forward development at Kirkley Waterfront in Lowestoft.

People are now invited to give their views on the draft Planning Position Statement for the Kirkley Waterfront and Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood, which has been prepared by East Suffolk Council.

When finalised, the Planning Position Statement will provide guidance to landowners and developers on the Council’s position on key issues affecting development. The document will be used to help make decisions on future planning applications on the site and to recognise any changes since previous guidance for the area was produced in 2013.

Kirkley Waterfront is a 60-hectare site in central Lowestoft which was identified for development in the Waveney Local Plan. The land is in multiple ownerships and some of the site has already been developed, but much remains vacant or underused.

Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “There have been significant changes in this area since the site was originally allocated for development in 2009, such as the completion of the Gull Wing bridge, however there has been limited redevelopment on the site so far.

 “Kirkley Waterfront has the potential to become a vibrant place for local people to enjoy and the aim of the Planning Position Statement is to provide clear advice to landowners, developers and other key stakeholders on various issues and challenges, and to ultimately ‘kickstart’ the development of the site.”

Kirkley Waterfront is the area on the south side of Lake Lothing and is a collection of mostly brownfield sites, including various former manufacturing and boat-building sites. It covers most of the south shore of Lake Lothing from Riverside Road in the east to Nelson Wharf in the west.

 Residents are invited to give their views on the draft Position Statement at www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-policy-consultations

The final Planning Position Statement is expected to be adopted later this year and will be used to help make decisions on planning applications.

During a consultation in March 2024, residents were asked for their comments about what should be included in the Planning Position Statement. These views have been considered during the development of the draft statement.

The five-week consultation closes on Thursday 8th May 2025.