East Suffolk Council
Lowestoft transport and infrastructure projects
Public and private sector partners are working towards delivering transport and infrastructure improvements in and around Lowestoft as part of plans to position the town as an economic force in the region.
Addressing existing and potential issues within the town, the Lowestoft Transport and Infrastructure Prospectus provides the template to deliver a range of improvements and facilitate economic growth in the town. Supported by business leaders in both the district and the county as a whole, its primary focus is on road, rail and port infrastructure improvements, as well as long term flood mitigation to stimulate development and create jobs in areas designated for growth.
A steering group led by Peter Aldous MP together with representatives from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council, Environment Agency, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce has been formed to oversee development of proposals within the Prospectus.
The Prospectus contains five key investment themes:
Road
In order to serve the needs of existing key sector businesses, accommodate planned growth and to attract the potential growth from developments in the Southern North Sea, it will be necessary to make significant investment in road infrastructure within Lowestoft and on the main access roads serving Lowestoft including the A12 and A47. Improvements to the main road network serving Lowestoft have been identified as well as unlocking pinch points and the re-routing of traffic away from congested areas.
Key activity:
- New crossing over Lake Lothing
- Upgrades to Urban Traffic Management Control System
- Improvements to the A47/A12
- Junction and Access Improvements to Enterprise Zones
Rail
The future prosperity of the town demands much better rail services to the regional centres of Ipswich and Norwich and for connections to London and onto the wider rail network. This will require sustained investment in infrastructure and services including improvements in the infrastructure such as track, signals, level crossings and stations.
Key activity:
- Working with partners to reduce ‘barrier down time’ at Oulton Broad North Station
- Improve journey times between Lowestoft and Ipswich
- Removal or Improvements of level crossings
- Improved bus connections and car parking at Stations
Flood Prevention
The threat of flooding is of major concern to both residential and commercial property owners and occupiers in the town. Lowestoft faces the threat of both fluvial and tidal flooding separately and in combination and flooding can also occur when high tides and severe rain / snow occur at the same time due to the closure of surface water outlet flaps. The strategic flood protection proposals within this prospectus are intended to address such issues
Key activity:
- Introduction of a tidal flood barrier at Lowestoft Harbour
- Mitigate against surface water flooding
- Introduce temporary flood protection measures at vulnerable locations
Port Related
For investment and future prospects, Lowestoft’s biggest asset and opportunity is it’s proximity to the southern North Sea. Major opportunities exist, particularly in support of the offshore wind farms, and these have the potential to create significant employment and business opportunities. The port and the town need to ensure that these opportunities are maximised which is best achieved by removing obstacles to growth, such as limited draft adjacent quays, clear width through the bascule bridge and the need to upgrade quay headings to meet changes in industry demands.
Key activity:
- Improvements to quay headings
- Investigating options to improve draft within the port
Sustainable Travel
A key characteristic of Lowestoft is that around 80% of people who work in the town also live there. Lowestoft is quite compact and this means that journeys to work, which happen at the busiest times, tend to be short. This means that many journeys, particularly at the busiest times, could be taken without the car. The aim of this theme is to improve the travel choices that people can make – by providing better routes for cycling and walking for shorter trips and by promoting the use of trains, buses and car sharing for longer trips
Key activity:
- Provision of a pedestrian/cycle crossing over Lake Lothing
- Investment in pedestrian, cycle and bus infrastructure