Employment, Enterprise & Skills

The Port Gateway project will create, new, high value jobs and unlock future inward investment, securing the town’s future as a hub for the clean energy sector. The development see the following improvements:

South Quay Wharf

The South Quay Wharf pocket park project included the demolition of the suspended quay by Associated British Ports, followed by the transformation of the area into a new pocket park.

Completed in Autumn 2025 and funded through Lowestoft’s Towns Fund, the space provides a sheltered garden setting from which to watch boats leaving and returning to the port.

New planting includes willow and alder trees, species native to the Broads, to provide shelter, alongside underplanting of shrubs and spring and summer flowers typically associated with woodland edges.

Led by: East Suffolk Council
Partner: Associated British Ports
Completed: Autumn 2025

In 2021 Associated British Ports launched the Port of Lowestoft Masterplan setting out ambitious plans until 2040.

Purpose-built to meet the growing demands of the offshore energy industry, LEEF supports operations and maintenance (O&M) activities and construction phase requirements. This state-of-the-art infrastructure strengthens Lowestoft’s position as a key hub for offshore wind and energy markets, while creating significant opportunities for regional growth and sustainability.

Key features of LEEF include:

• 345m of quayside with three deep-water berths (7.5m draft), with capacity to accommodate Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for uninterrupted operations at all tides.
• Up to 8 acres of operational and storage space, adaptable for covered and open storage, marshalling, and equipment laydown for O&M and future construction phases.
• Six Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV) berths, each equipped with utilities including water and power, with the infrastructure to add comms and bunkering.
• Future-proofed infrastructure to support alternative fuels and shore power, aligning with ABP’s commitment to sustainable operations.

Partner: Associated British Ports
Cost: £35m (inc. £2.4m HM Government Towns Fund)
Completed: November 2024

🌐 For further information: click here

PowerPark is a flagship regeneration initiative designed to position Lowestoft, as a leading hub for the clean energy sector. Building on the town’s strong maritime heritage and its growing role in offshore energy, the project aims to foster a thriving cluster of energy-related businesses - driving economic growth, inward investment, and high-skilled employment.

Covering 24.7 hectares, PowerPark encompasses the town’s port, dock, and industrial area, all within easy reach of the town centre and seafront. At its core lies the Port of Lowestoft, owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), serving as a vital regional gateway to the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, and the Baltic States.

Strategic Location & Infrastructure

Lowestoft’s location, close to major offshore wind farms in the Southern North Sea, gives it a significant strategic advantage. Key port assets such as the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), Waveney Dock, Hamilton Dock, and Trawl Dock are critical to supporting offshore energy activities.

Leading sector players, including SSE, ScottishPower Renewables, and innovation centre OrbisEnergy, are already established at PowerPark, reinforcing Lowestoft’s pivotal role in the UK’s clean energy transition.

Ideal Tenancy Vision

PowerPark is designed to attract businesses aligned with the UK’s clean growth ambitions, with a vision focused on:

• Creating a vibrant cluster of offshore renewables, engineering, and maritime companies
• Enhancing infrastructure to support larger vessels and enable low-carbon business growth
• Improving public spaces and connectivity between the port, town centre, and seafront - making Lowestoft an attractive place to live, work, and invest

By aligning with national energy objectives and capitalising on its strategic location, PowerPark aims to establish Lowestoft as a long-term centre of excellence in the low-carbon economy.

Orbis Energy: Innovation Hub

Located at PowerPark, OrbisEnergy is a leading centre for clean energy innovation, offering flexible workspaces, conference facilities, and virtual office solutions. It supports over 40 businesses, including major energy firms and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

📧 For more information: orbisenergy@suffolk.gov.uk
🌐 Visit: www.orbisenergy.co.uk 

PowerPark Vision and Future Growth

In 2020, East Suffolk Council published the PowerPark Vision, shaped by industry engagement and rooted in a comprehensive masterplan. The accompanying Design Vision sets out key principles for future development and ensures the site is well-positioned for long-term investment and sustainable growth.

Learn More

To explore current opportunities, updates, and visuals:
🌐Visit: PowerPark
📩 For more information: economicdevelopment@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
📸 View drone footage here

Construction is now complete on The Nexus development, which is regenerating the industrial zone known as the Power Park in Lowestoft.

The Nexus is a high-quality scheme comprising 16 flexible units aiming to create a cluster of clean energy sector businesses enhancing the ongoing investment in the area. The development offers easy access to the Port of Lowestoft, OrbisEnergy and East Coast College’s Energy Skills Centre.

The site which had been vacant for nearly 3 years, was previously occupied by two industrial buildings that were beyond their economic life.

The Nexus has been constructed by SEH French to a high standard and to support the fit-out of the units East Suffolk Council are offering grant support to qualifying businesses who wish to locate on the development. The site contains 16 purpose-built contemporary business units of varying sizes, ranging between 35m2 and 225 m2. The site will also be landscaped, internal estate roads will be created with car parking, cycle storage and waste collection provision.

The lease of the units is being managed by Bycroft Commercial on behalf of East Suffolk Council and who are keen to speak with interested parties, particularly those who are involved in supporting the clean energy sector. 🌐: Please click here to be taken to Bycroft’s website.

Grants for fit out:

East Suffolk Council will provide a one-off capital grant to new tenants to purchase fixtures and fittings for the new commercial units at The Nexus, an East Suffolk Council development located in the PowerPark area in Lowestoft.

The Nexus, on Newcombe Road, is a £4.27million development being delivered by East Suffolk Council and will include modern business units of varying sizes available to let for office and light industrial uses, with allocated on-site EV parking.

The grant scheme is funded from the Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft Enterprise Zone Fund B.

Partner: East Suffolk Council
Cost: £4.5m
Completed: Winter 2024/25

🌐 Visit: East Suffolk Council: The Nexus

Enterprise Zones are designated areas across England that provide tax breaks and Government support. They are great places to do business especially for both new and expanding firms.

East Suffolk has three strategically important employment sites in Lowestoft which are part of the New Anglia, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone.

The scheme is a joint venture between New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Suffolk County Council, Norfolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council, with a focus on growing energy related businesses and creating high skilled jobs.

Since 2013 the scheme has attracted £44.5million of public and private sector investment across East Suffolk by providing new premises which attract small, medium and large businesses. To date the scheme has supported 30 business.

Each site has access to broadband and a simplified planning process for development. Business support is also available from the New Anglia Growth Hub who will be able to advise on potential grants and financial aid available.

The three Enterprise Zone sites in Lowestoft are:

South Lowestoft Industrial Estate

South Lowestoft Industrial Estate (SLIE) is 20.3ha in total size, with Phoenix Enterprise Park making up 9 acres of this employment area. Phoenix Enterprise Park has 17 business units built on a purpose built development. 15 businesses have already taken advantage of the site ranging from manufacturing to mechanics. The units are brand new light industrial units built to a very high standard starting from 2,500sq ft, boasting super-fast broadband, 3 phase power supply, efficient LED lighting, electrical fittings and are fitted with an accessible/staff toilet.

Mobbs Way

Mobbs Way is 4.7ha of employment land and is ideal for small businesses or start-ups who are ready to take their next step to expanding their business. The site has been successful ever since it opened with a total of 32 units on site ranging from sizes 140sqm to 418sqm . There is a wide range of businesses operating from Mobbs way, from engineering to builders and media companies.

Riverside

The 4.5ha site is situated within Lowestoft’s inner harbour, located to the South of Lake Lothing. The site can be accessed by the A12 via Waveney Drive and is surrounded by a mixture of residential, retail and office uses. This enterprise zone already accommodates a number of civic uses and is expected to provide further opportunities for office uses. The Development for the Gull Wing River Crossing will be taking place at Riverside and will be providing a key infrastructure improvement to Lowestoft.

The 0.9-hectare site located off Barnards Way in Lowestoft is situated behind the existing North Quay Retail Park and industrial estate. Currently, the site is unoccupied, except for perimeter security measures. The site is currently formed of overgrown scrub, ruderal species, and trees that limit access to the area.

Led by East Suffolk Council, the proposed logistics hub would support the ongoing maintenance strategy for council housing services, providing a fit for purpose modern facility.

Led by: East Suffolk Council
Architects: Ingleton Wood

Lowestoft has areas of severe deprivation, with NEETs and unemployment all embedded within low self-esteem, low paid jobs, low aspiration, poor progression into permanent employment and higher-paid roles.

This project delivered by East Coast College will provide a framework to move people who are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET) into sustained employment and apprenticeships. The uniqueness of the project is that not only will it provide skills and employment training, but also supported work placement elements which will match students to future vacancy openings, in turn providing the student with a gradual entry to work (with mentoring) as well as providing the employer the opportunity to see the person in the workplace and nurture them for the future.