A VISION of the future for Great Yarmouth’s riverside was unveiled to the public at an exhibition at the town’s Novus Centre on Monday.

The plans to regenerate rundown areas with 1,000 new homes and shops and open up the river front to the public went on show ahead of final public consultation beginning on November 5.

A 15-year time span has been put on the transformation which it is hoped will see the development of a continental-style cafe culture next to the river.

Urban regeneration company 1st East has been working on the area action plan in consultation with the borough council, and the council’s planning policy manager David Glason said the initial public response had been “very positive”.

A mixed development of 450 houses and apartments is planned for Southtown Road, dubbed Ice House Quay by 1st East, with work envisaged to begin in about 10 years time.

The scheme, which would redevelop the river front as far south as Richard’s Dry Dock, would involve the relocation of business premises such as J and H Bunn. About 370 homes are planned for North Quay along with offices and shops.

Mr Glason said The Conge, which joins on to North Quay, was a new element in the revised action plan, and the aim was to create better links from the railway station through to the Market Place by creating a new retail area. Cobholm will see the first part of the plan put in place, with work poised to start on a 20-homes development at Saul’s Wharf.

A further 80 homes are planned in Cobholm but development beyond that would be constrained by the capacity of roads in the area. Homes are also proposed for Runham Vauxhall and planners hope that developer contributions might help to meet the cost of refurbishing Vauxhall Bridge, which links North Quay to the station and Asda.

Mr Glason said the state of the economy would affect the rate of progress on difficult-to-develop sites.