Designs finalised for Winter Gardens restoration

Designs for the restoration of the Winter Gardens have been completed and the main contractor is set to be appointed

Designs to restore a listed landmark on a Norfolk seafront have been finalised ahead of work starting later in the year.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) said it was due to appoint its main contractor for the £18m Winter Gardens project.

The restoration and regeneration of the building has attracted grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Government's Town Deal.

Iain Robertson, who is leading the project for GYBC, said: ''The Winter Gardens, which is on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register, is a bespoke and complex project of international and national significance.

"The key objective to save the building from further deterioration - so time is of the essence."

The cast iron will be repaired and restored, and the glazing technology will help reduce heat in summer and provide insulation in winter

The building is the UK's last surviving Victorian glasshouse on a seaside promenade.

Historic England, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, The John Innes Centre, University of Cambridge and Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust have been involved in the restoration.

The work will include high-quality glazing, heating and cooling systems suitable for people and plants, significant planting, rainwater harvesting, irrigation and low energy and decarbonisation plans.

The council is expected to name its main contractor and announce the start date for the restoration, which should be completed in 2027.

Once work gets under way, the project will provide skills and training for 95 young people - including those not in employment, education or training.

There will also be six paid placements in heritage and conservation, and six paid apprenticeships in hospitality, catering, business skills and horticulture.

The Winter Gardens project, which will create 95 training posts throughout its duration, should be complete in 2027

Iain Robertson, who is leading on the construction delivery at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said the detailed designs had been worked on over the past six months.

''Apart from working to save the building, the team aims to create an all-year-round destination and a facility for the inclusion of the local community which is focused on free access for local people," he said.

The work on the Grade II* listed building will see the restoration of its original features - including cast and wrought ironwork and lost details of timber screens to recapture its past grandeur, along with new services for the community.

Restoration work should start this year and the project should be completed to allow visitors in during 2027

Carl Smith, leader of GYBC, said the ambitious project had now reached the end of the detailed design stage for the renovation and refurbishment.

He added: ''We have set incredibly high standards for work on the ambitious regeneration of the Winter Gardens.

''With these detailed and cutting-edge designs, we are determined to ensure we have a nationally significant landmark building here on the seafront in Great Yarmouth that is at the heart of the town's life, economy and historical legacy.

"It will provide a unique experience for residents and visitors for decades to come.''