51.
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft have been successful in their bids to gain EU- designated Assisted Area Status (AAS). The aim of this scheme is to allow businesses within the towns to access more Government and European funding which, in turn, could help businesses associated with the offshore wind sector grow and create more jobs and expertise. The status will come into effect on 1st July 2014 and will last until 2020 when it will be reviewed.
52.
The Draft Great Yarmouth Local Plan Core Strategy (Great Yarmouth Borough Council 2013) also supports the offshore wind sector and the economic importance it has for the area. Policy CS6 – Supporting the local economy, states that in order to grow the local economy there needs to be a “greater presence of higher value, technology and energy-based industries including offshore renewable energy companies in the borough.”
53. 54.
The plan safeguards a significant amount of employment land to accommodate potential growth in the offshore renewable energy sector.
The plan highlights that there is a Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering (CORE) in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft which “ensure businesses looking to invest in manufacturing for the offshore renewable energy industry receive the most comprehensive support possible”. It states that an offshore supply chain has been in place for over 45 years and that “this experience has resulted in a concentrated network of highly experienced businesses that have successfully diversified into the Offshore Wind industry supporting the development, construction and operations of Round 1, 2 and 3 wind farm developments in the Southern North Sea”.
55. Moving forward the Council is looking to create a high quality urban environment on the Great Yarmouth waterfront which will attract the offshore renewable energy industry to invest in the area. This in turn will “reinforce Great Yarmouth as a regional hub for this industry”.
56.
Great Yarmouth Economic Strategy 2011-2016 (Great Yarmouth Borough Council 2010) states that Great Yarmouth is the “main service base in England for the offshore energy industry” and it is recognised as having expertise in this area particularly through the installation of Scroby Sands. The port is “a major economic driver” for Great Yarmouth. The strategy recognises the opportunity to “become leaders in renewable energy and environmental services particularly by developing the offshore renewable energy sector”. The strategy identifies three main growth sectors for Great Yarmouth:
Energy and Engineering;
Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm
Chapter 28 Socio-economics Page 19
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