Great Yarmouth Borough Council has appointed Morgan Sindall to deliver a new state-of-the-art Marina Centre
The council’s £26m investment into the Marina Centre will be a major boost to the economy and community for decades to come.
It will act as a catalyst for potential further investment and seafront regeneration, whilst supporting health and wellbeing throughout the borough.
Following site set-up and groundworks in the coming weeks, piling of the foundations will commence this winter and the steel structure will go up in spring, with cladding going on during summer and internal works and fit-out then getting underway on the new Marina Centre.
A ‘state-of-the-art landmark’
Councillor Carl Smith and councillor Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the main political groups, said: “The new Marina Centre will benefit the visitor economy and borough as both a year-round anchor seafront attraction and an important community hub for the promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity.
“Despite the challenges of coronavirus, which has unavoidably impacted timescales on such a large and complex project, this facility is important to Great Yarmouth’s recovery journey, supporting both economic and physical health, and the council has worked hard to keep driving forward project development and delivery.
“With the site cleared and the beautifully-decorated hoardings in place, the appointment of the main contractor is an exciting milestone and people can look forward to the state-of-the-art landmark facility taking shape.”
The construction will bolster the local economy, with 75% of the project’s supply chain being drawn from SME companies in Great Yarmouth.
It will also create training and employment opportunities for people living locally.
During the development, Morgan Sindall Construction and its supply chain will provide real-world training for Great Yarmouth apprentices, with around 182 weeks of training being provided for young people during the life of the project.
The scheme will also create 10 work experience placements and three mentorships for young people progressing careers in the sector.
Alister Broadberry, Morgan Sindall Construction’s eastern counties area director, commented: “We’re pleased and proud to have been appointed to this significant scheme which will transform the health and leisure facilities available for people living across Great Yarmouth – bolstering well-being and creating a brilliant, state-of-the-art centre for people across the borough.
“We’re committed to delivering outstanding developments that enrich and support our communities and we look forward to working closely with our local supply chain and creating a number of new roles and apprenticeships on this project – leaving a positive lasting legacy within the Great Yarmouth community.”
The project is funded by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, plus £2.5m secured from the government’s Getting Building Fund, via New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, £1.6m from Sport England, and £500,000 from Pooled Business Rates.
The new Marina Centre will be a year-round anchor attraction, including a six-lane 25m pool with full disabled access and suitable for competitions.
The complex will also be equipped with a 100-station health and fitness gym with views to the sea, four-court multi-purpose sports hall, indoor climbing zone for all ages, a café, and accessible multi-use flexible community spaces.
The new Marina Centre is scheduled to open in summer 2022.
