Restoration of disused building at Lowestoft Station shelved

Two years after a new restaurant, café and workspace was earmarked as part of the proposed redevelopment of the Refreshments Building at the front of Lowestoft Station, the project "has been postponed."

Plans were showcased in 2022. A daytime visualisation of the station. (Image: LDA Designs) (Image: LDA Designs)

The proposed redevelopment at Lowestoft Station Quarter was the subject of a consultation event in August 2022 as proposals were showcased - with East Suffolk Council leading on the project in partnership with Network Rail, Railway Heritage Trust and Greater Anglia.

Back in 2022, the Lowestoft Railway Station consultation event was held. Picture: Mick Howes) (Image: Mick Howes)

Back then, feasibility studies had identified that the building "would be most suited to providing a food and beverage offer" - leading to East Suffolk Council commissioning Ipswich-based Architects, KLH, "to reimagine the building for present day use."

Around £2m was earmarked for the proposals to redevelop the disused part of Lowestoft station and transform it into a restaurant, a café and flexible workspace as part of its desire to regenerate the town.

Plans were showcased two years ago. A night time visualisation of the station. Image: LDA Designs (Image: LDA Designs)

However the vision to bring a building that "has been empty for 50 years" back into use has been shelved for the time being - casting doubt over its future.

The council has instead decided to reallocate funding from the project after being unable to secure ownership of the building from Network Rail.

It said the decision had been taken "to provide further support for key Lowestoft regeneration projects by reallocating funding to ongoing schemes from the £24.9m Town Deal."

'External factors'

Toby Hammond, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for economic development and transport, said the decision was based on "external factors" beyond the authority's control.

He said: "Without any guarantee [that securing ownership] would take place imminently, delivery of the scheme within the Towns Fund, external spending deadline cannot be assured.

Toby Hammond, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for economic development and transport (Image: East Suffolk Council)

"With other projects in the programme already more advanced, it was agreed reallocating £1.96m of funds from the station building and pausing the project temporarily would provide the best financial outcome.

"It will mean we can move forward with increased confidence by ensuring that the current works remain affordable and deliverable in the face of greater pressures.

"We will continue to work to bring forward the station building project in the future.

Lowestoft Railway Station. (Image: East Suffolk Council) (Image: East Suffolk Council)

"We greatly welcomed a grant award of £206,000 towards the restoration of the building from the Railway Heritage Trust, and we remain committed to featuring the station building project in a refreshed Lowestoft Town Investment plan, which is due for completion at the end of the year."

With bosses at the Railway Heritage Trust "disappointed" at the project's postponement, Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: "We remain committed to help with any future restoration project for the building.

"We are grateful to East Suffolk Council for the work they have done to date to save this historic building and show that it can have a bright future."

'Overbearing extension'

But not everyone was upset that the project had been shelved, with the Lowestoft Central Project admitting it was "fantastic news".

A spokesman said: "The authority's insistence on adding a modern, overbearing extension to the roof would have destroyed the architectural integrity of one of Lowestoft’s oldest and most historic public buildings.

"We had also shared serious concerns with the authority that a potential restaurant development within the building would be unviable in view of nearby competition.

"Whilst we are keen to find a new use for the building and see it sympathetically restored, what the station needs most urgently is a reinstatement of the concourse roof, providing much needed shelter for passengers, and improved toilet facilities - two schemes that the Lowestoft Central Project together with the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership are actively pursuing.

"We now hope the Railway Heritage Trust will consider grant support to the building's owner Network Rail to ensure the structure does not deteriorate further."

Regenerating the town

With the Lowestoft Town Deal secured in 2021 to regenerate the town, drive economic growth, and stimulate future investment a number of key schemes are under way.

Concept image for the Station Quarter area of Lowestoft. (Image: LDA Designs) (Image: LDA Designs)

Work has progressed on transforming the town's former Post Office into a creative hub following major restoration as part of the Lowestoft High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.

Demolition has begun on the former Battery Green multi-storey car park to eventually make way for a new cultural and community hub.

Improvements to Royal Plain, as well as the planned redevelopment at Jubilee Parade, will revitalise the seafront area for residents and visitors.

However, the council said, that "to meet these outcomes in the face of rising, inflationary costs, and provide greater financial contingency across the whole programme," they'd decided to reallocate funding.

A council spokesman said: "East Suffolk Council has previously agreed terms, and a purchase price, for the station building, and outline plans for the scheme have been presented to the public.

"The council, however, has not yet been able to secure ownership of the building from Network Rail and without any guarantee that this would take place imminently, delivery of the scheme within the Towns Fund spending deadline cannot be assured."

'Important initiative'

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We have consistently supported this important initiative and remain open to selling the building.

"However, the sale of a railway property is a complex process that requires thorough cross-industry consultation and securing the necessary permissions from our regulator, which can take time.

"We remain enthusiastic about working with East Suffolk Council on this regeneration project, as well as other parties who may be interested in using the building."