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BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Great Yarmouth library to open after £17m refurbishment
A library will officially open in a former department store following a £17m refurbishment. About 100 guests have been invited to mark the opening of The Place - on the site of the former Palmers shop - in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The building also has a community hub and a learning centre offering diplomas, degrees, courses and community services. Conservative councillor, Carl Smith, said: "The Place is one of the biggest regeneration projects the town has seen in recent years." While the library has been open to the public since 6 May, Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord Lieutenant for Norfolk, is set to officially open the building at 11:30 BST. From Wednesday, East College University and the University of Suffolk will be holding taster sessions for people to find out about the courses and qualifications due to be offered at the site. Head of library operations Kerry Murray said the library has already seen an increase in footfall since it opened a week ago, and the "build-up" to the official launch has "been immense". "Customers are really excited to come back to the library," she said. "That there's something like this invested in their town for local people, and really invigorating the town, and bringing it back to life."The project in the five-storey building was funded with money from the government's Town Deal and Future High Streets fund, as well as the East Coast College and the University of said: "We are looking forward to welcoming the people of the borough to see for themselves just how impressive The Place is."It has been incredibly complex to completely refurbish this historic building, and I would like to thank our partners and the team at Morgan Sindall for their hard work in helping us realise our ambitions for our community." Palmer family members see old store transformedMilestone reached in £17m project to develop old shopGreat Yarmouth: Transformation of derelict Palmers department store begins Palmers originally opened in 1837 but closed in March 2020. It was then taken over by Beales, but the company went into administration. Great Yarmouth Borough Council bought the building in 2021 with ambitions of turning it into a community hub for the regeneration of the building aimed to preserve as many historic details as possible so visitors could learn about the town's history. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Great Yarmouth North Quay regeneration plans move a step closer
The multi-million pound regeneration of "underutilised" land close to a resort's railway station has moved a step Yarmouth Borough Council has appointed the construction firm Willmott Dixon to develop the 10-acre (four-hectare) site at North council said the prospect of regenerating the North Quay Waterfront area offered "the most significant development opportunity in a generation".A planning application is expected to be submitted early next year. Plans include the creation of leisure facilities, retail space, residential areas and revamped public Smith, a Conservative councillor and leader of the council, said: "North Quay is a key site which will become a vibrant new destination and will further enhance the town's already prosperous economic future."We owe it to our residents and all those who love Great Yarmouth to create a scheme which will live up to our inspiring and innovative history." The council secured £20m of levelling up money for the project in of the money was being used to "unlock the area", which included purchasing land through voluntary and compulsory year, some homeowners told the BBC they felt "priced out of the market".No date has been set on when work will begin, or when the project is scheduled for Atkinson, national head of land and development at Willmott Dixon, said: "Over the coming months we're looking forward to working with local stakeholders to share our exciting ideas for the transformation of this key site."Trevor Wainwright, the council's Labour group leader, said he supported the scheme - describing the area as "an important strategic site".The council said no decision had yet been made on the future of three Grade II listed properties located within the proposed regeneration buildings are buildings of special architectural or historic interest with additional legal Dixon was recently appointed to deliver a similar regeneration of Dover's town has also worked with Torbay Council to regenerate several sites in Torquay and Paignton. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Winter Gardens awarded £0.5m for its restoration
A Grade II listed building on a seafront has been granted £500,000 towards its restoration. The Winter Gardens, in Great Yarmouth, was given the funding by Historic England to help restore it into a community space. The Victorian glasshouse, on the Norfolk coast, is the last of its kind standing, although it closed to the public in 2008. Tony Calladine, East of England regional director of Historic England, said the grant would help "breathe new life" into the building, "securing the future of this rare and remarkable structure". Originally erected in Torquay, the building was transported and reassembled in Norfolk in 1904. This grant forms part of collaborative funding, including £12.3m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and about £6m from the UK Towns Fund. The building's original features - including cast and wrought ironwork - will be restored as part of the project. Plans for the Winter Gardens will include creating community spaces and café areas to be used for leisure, entertainment and learning. Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''The restoration of the Winter Gardens is hugely significant for people in Great Yarmouth – and nationally." "We are extremely grateful to Historic England for this major grant support as our team of heritage experts breathes new life into this landmark building on the seafront," he added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Designs finalised for Winter Gardens restoration 'Exciting' plans for derelict Winter Gardens Kew Gardens boss advises on Winter Gardens project Last look at Winter Gardens ahead of restoration Historic England Great Yarmouth Borough Council


BBC News
09-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens receives £500k grant
A Grade II listed building on a seafront has been granted £500,000 towards its Winter Gardens, in Great Yarmouth, was given the funding by Historic England to help restore it into a community Victorian glasshouse, on the Norfolk coast, is the last of its kind standing, although it closed to the public in Calladine, East of England regional director of Historic England, said the grant would help "breathe new life" into the building, "securing the future of this rare and remarkable structure". Originally erected in Torquay, the building was transported and reassembled in Norfolk in grant forms part of collaborative funding, including £12.3m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and about £6m from the UK Towns Fund. The building's original features - including cast and wrought ironwork - will be restored as part of the for the Winter Gardens will include creating community spaces and café areas to be used for leisure, entertainment and Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''The restoration of the Winter Gardens is hugely significant for people in Great Yarmouth – and nationally.""We are extremely grateful to Historic England for this major grant support as our team of heritage experts breathes new life into this landmark building on the seafront," he added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vicksburg man's two sexual battery convictions reversed by court
WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed two sexual battery convictions for a Vicksburg man. According to court documents, a Warren County Circuit Court jury convicted Carl Deanthony Smith on two counts of sexual battery of a victim under 14 years of age and 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Bond denied for suspect in Jackson mass shooting In 2024, Smith was sentenced to serve two concurrent terms of life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for the two sexual battery convictions. He was also sentenced to serve 10 concurrent terms of 30 years for the 10 convictions of possession of child pornography. In his appeal, Smith argued that insufficient evidence supported his convictions for sexual battery. The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support those two convictions. Carl Smith (Courtesy: MDOC) The court reversed Smith's two sexual-battery convictions and life sentences. The court rendered a judgment of acquittal. CO183678Download However, the court ruled that there was no error on the charges of possession of child pornography. The court affirmed Smith's 10 convictions of possession of child pornography and remanded the case to allow the circuit court to reconsider the sentencing on the affirmed convictions. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.