East Suffolk Council
Seafront exercise facilities to open
Outdoor exercise equipment, installed as part of a major redevelopment at Lowestoft’s seafront, will open for use ahead of this weekend’s First Light Festival.
Funded through Lowestoft’s £24.9m allocation from the Government’s Towns Fund, regeneration work at Royal Plain, Royal Green and South Quay Wharf is progressing well, with some of the project now complete and ready for use.
Delivered by Blakedown Landscapes on behalf of East Suffolk Council, a new free-to-use Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), outdoor gym equipment and a boulder climbing area have been installed at Royal Green and these will open for use on Thursday 19 June, ahead of this weekend’s First Light Festival.
Extensive landscaping and new seating have also been created at Royal Green, with new benches and raised planters installed at Royal Plain.
Cllr Tim Wilson, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Economic Development and Regeneration said: “The installation of these free sports facilities will enable residents and visitors to stay active and connect with people along the seafront, and I am delighted to see this major project take a significant step towards completion. The improvements at South Quay Wharf and the fountains at Royal Plain will follow as soon as possible, and in conjunction with the other regeneration projects underway across Lowestoft, these new facilities will greatly enhance the town for the benefit of local residents and encourage visitors.”
New fountains are also being installed at Royal Plain, with construction of the plant room due to start at the end of June following some unexpected delays. Once this final phase of the project is complete, a timescale for the opening of the fountains will be confirmed.
Work to create a new pocket park at South Quay Wharf is also underway and includes raised planters, new seating and lighting and a sheltered garden backdrop from which to watch the boats leaving and returning to the port.
The regeneration of this area of Lowestoft supports the wider Towns Fund programme and complements the construction of a new development further along the seafront. Jubilee Rise (formerly Jubilee Parade) will comprise a two-storey restaurant and café complex together with three new leisure concession units, public toilets, and a Changing Places facility for those with accessibility needs.
A new lift will also be installed to greatly improve accessibility along the seafront for those with mobility issues and for pushchair users. The lift will connect the Upper Esplanade with the Lower Promenade, providing access to the restaurant space and first floor Eastern Edge beach huts.
Constructed by PJ Spillings, Jubilee Rise is expected to be completed in early 2026.
A temporary closure on the lower promenade which has been installed to enable construction work at Jubilee Rise will be removed ahead of the First Light Festival. This will be reinstated on Wednesday 25 June. Except for fencing around the fountains, temporary fencing around Royal Green will also be removed ahead of First Light.