What would you like to see and do in the restored Winter Gardens?
Please click this link to take the survey: Complete the survey here
You are invited to complete a short survey to help bolster a major funding bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save and revive Great Yarmouth’s Winter Gardens.
The Grade II*-listed landmark is a national heritage gem, the UK’s last surviving Victorian seaside cast iron and glass winter gardens, and it requires significant national investment to repair and restore, supported by a robust business plan for re-use.
With the project among only 12 shortlisted nationally to apply to the Heritage Horizons Awards scheme, Great Yarmouth Borough Council is working with conservation specialists and a preferred operator to finalise the application to the first stage of this very competitive multi-stage national funding pot.
The ambition is to save, restore and reimagine the Winter Gardens at the heart of Great Yarmouth’s regeneration and daily life, as a year-round visitor attraction that makes the most of the unique building, its seafront location and its horticultural heritage, complementing the recently-restored Venetian Waterways and the new Marina Centre under construction.
To support their application for development funding, the project team is undertaking a survey to find out a bit more about what residents and visitors might want to see and do in the restored Winter Gardens, the sorts of activities, functions and attractions it could be used for. People can take part until January 15th.
Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council’s main political groups, said: “Significant work is progressing behind the scenes to realise the community’s dream of bringing our much-loved Winter Gardens back into viable and suitable use, including business case development, architectural work and exploring further funding opportunities.
“We’re at the start of a competitive multi-stage application process for the major national investment needed. Vital work is continuing to ensure we’re in the best possible position against stiff competition and we’re asking you to help bolster our chances as a community by completing our activities survey. The project team will feed back your views and ideas into our design process, so everyone’s feedback is important.”