Celebrations soar as Great Yarmouth’s new library and learning hub opens its doors
The new library and learning hub in Great Yarmouth, The Place, officially opened to the community on Tuesday 13th of May, an accolade that was celebrated with a range of activities, displays, taster sessions, and tours.
Completed by Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties business, the £17m regeneration of this historic building was delivered on behalf of Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
To mark this transformative milestone for Great Yarmouth, almost 150 guests were welcomed to enjoy opening speeches and refreshments. This was followed by The Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Norfolk, unveiling a plaque to guests, before the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Paula Waters-Bunn, cut the cake. The public was then invited to explore the highly anticipated venue and enjoy short, guided tours of the library, adult learning facilities and registrar services.
To create The Place, Morgan Sindall carried out a top-to-bottom refurbishment of the former Palmers department store in Great Yarmouth’s Market Place. Celebrating the building’s rich heritage, historical displays and photographs of Palmers’ iconic window displays were showcased for visitors during the opening event.
Procured via SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement specialists, restorative works at the 5,300 sqm, five-storey venue have sensitively retained the conservation area and appearance of the building which dates back hundreds of years. As a result, the public library has been fully fitted out, with classrooms and public areas that are almost ready to open. This includes community facilities such as adult learning provision, a registry office, and Citizen’s Advice.
The top-to-bottom refurbishment was highly complex, where works included the construction of a brand-new multipurpose learning hub, general teaching classrooms, state-of-the-art IT labs, art and photography studios, technology and medical classrooms, as well as simulation hospital and function space. All while preserving iconic features such as the property’s historic windows, ceilings, stained glass, and atrium.
This will be the base for the University Learning Centre, where East Coast College and the University of Suffolk will offer degree and diploma courses, as well as access to higher education and adult learning courses.
The renovation on Great Yarmouth’s Market Place was funded via £8.1m from the Government’s Town Deal, with a further £3.4m from the Future High Streets Fund. Additionally, East Coast College and University of Suffolk contributed £3.7m, and Norfolk County Council £2.3m.
Read more about the social value delivered here
This project presented Morgan Sindall with a unique opportunity to tackle two pressing challenges at once – the regeneration of Great Yarmouth and the construction sector’s skills gap. Consequently, Morgan Sindall welcomed 70 students from East Norfolk Sixth Form and East Coast College to attend the site throughout construction to showcase the various opportunities in the sector, with their courses ranging from Design, Surveying, and Planning, to Business Studies, Art Foundation and Interior Design, and Brickwork.
Additionally, the project team awarded two T-Level Students a 45-day industrial work placement and gave three brickwork students work placements. Two of the bricklaying students were even awarded full time positions with Morgan Sindall’s supply chain partner, Quantrill Contractors, quickly after their two-week placements. This demonstrates what can be achieved by connecting education providers with the construction industry.
And to make a difference to the community, Morgan Sindall carried out a week-long volunteer programme at a local college with subcontractors, delivering hands-on sessions for students from brickwork to final fix. Extending our commitment to local social value, the team also performed a restoration of Great Yarmouth Athletics Club equipment storage cabin free of charge.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to sustainability, the team has boosted the building’s EPC rating from B to A. This has been achieved by installing 32 PV panels, large-scale air handling units, breathing buildings ventilation, time-sensor LED lighting, and thermal upgrades. The tier one contractor partnered with Pallet Loop to recycle all pallets and European Metal Recycling, who donated scrap metal proceeds to Morgan Sindall’s local chosen charity, ‘The Feed’.
From Wednesday the 14th of May, East Coast College and University of Suffolk will offer taster sessions for people to find out more about the courses and qualifications being offered at The Place.
Alister Broadberry, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in the Eastern Counties, said:
It is an absolute pleasure to celebrate the opening of this transformational scheme for Great Yarmouth. The whole project team is immensely proud of our work to regenerate this beloved landmark building into the community’s new library and learning hub, and it’s been excellent to continue our partnership with Great Yarmouth Borough Council throughout.
It has been absolutely fantastic to work on such a bold and ambitious project, and we very much look forward to seeing the whole community enjoy The Place for many years to come.”
The Lady Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Norfolk, said:
The Place is a landmark institution that will serve as a library, learning and university centre for Great Yarmouth and so much more.
It is the result of immense dedication, collaboration and hard work. I wish to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of his Majesty, The King, to everyone who has played a role in bringing this vision to life. The Place stands as a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnerships, shared ambition and a commitment to delivering vital services that will benefit this community, not just for years to come, but hopefully for generations to come.”
Councillor Kay Mason Billig, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:
I am struck by the sense of history at The Place which has been so beautifully preserved. But we can be in no doubt this is a truly modern, forward-thinking facility. For us at Norfolk County Council, The Place is home to our newest local library. Our libraries put our services at the very heart of our communities – they are spaces where people of all ages can come to explore and learn and we celebrate the opening of this remarkable new facility.”
Paul Padda, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of East Coast College, said:
This is a significant milestone in our community. The Place represents a beacon of opportunity: a place where individuals from all walks of life can come to expand their knowledge, develop new skills and pursue their passions. We are incredibly proud of our facilities here and the diverse range of programmes we intend to offer at The Place.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, Professor Jenny Higham, said:
We have a fully-equipped, simulated hospital ward in this fantastic building which we aim to use to deliver nursing, nursing associate and assistant practitioner courses, which can develop the skills much-needed by local NHS providers.
As a civic university, we can also offer so much more - we hope to help generate economic growth for Great Yarmouth by building collaborative relationships with regional businesses and employers and supporting their workforce needs and development."Henry Cator OBE, High Steward of Great Yarmouth, Chair of Great Yarmouth Town Deal Board and Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, said:
The Place will give young people opportunities for careers and a bright future - it is in their hands that the future of this wonderful and proud town rests. I hope all the points of learning here will be taken advantage of, providing the opportunity for people to reach and aspire to the careers they seek.”
Councillor Carl Smith, Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said:
This transformation represents one of Great Yarmouth’s most significant regeneration projects in decades. The Place is the result of a vision, a dream of revitalising our town’s heart and creating an environment where learning, creativity and opportunity can flourish.
This is not just a space for education – it is a space for community. It’s a place where people can gather, interact, learn and enjoy all the vibrancy our town has to offer.
None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of our partners - Norfolk County Council, East Coast College and the University of Suffolk are all committed to providing learning opportunities here at The Place - their investment in the future of our borough speaks volumes about their belief in our community and its potential.”
The new library at The Place opened to the public from May 6 and further information about the services and courses available at The Place can be found at www.gytheplace.co.uk
ENDS