King’s Lynn Riverfront Regeneration Stage 2 Report
RIVERFRONT REGENERATION
Town Investment Plan theme: Historic riverfront and repurposed town centre
This project will revive historical cultural assets in this part of the town, leading to increased visitor numbers and use, as well as the creation of new jobs.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project forms a key element of the King’s Lynn Town Deal programme. It constitutes the first phase of regeneration for King’s Lynn’s riverfront and is led by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. Through our Vision King’s Lynn consultation, we’ve learnt that people feel that there should be more to see and do along the town’s riverfront, maximising its potential and drawing more people to the area, while protecting and preserving its unique heritage.
This first phase of investment includes upgraded attractions and facilities that will pave the way for further investment in leisure and residential development in the locality of the riverfront. Work is already underway on the Rail to River Public Realm project which has seen the installation of new signs and will see new archway on Purfleet Street to frame the Custom House and encourage people down to the Riverfront.
The Grade 1 listed Custom House is one of the most important buildings in King’s Lynn and is set within a historically significant environment with the adjacent Purfleet Quay, quayside, the area around Millfleet/Devil’s Alley, and South Quay which links the two areas. Our proposals will seek to reenergise these areas with new leisure and hospitality facilities involving the sensitive conversion and refurbishment of the Custom House.
DOCUMENTS
Riverfront Regeneration
Consultation
During 2022 – 2024, we asked for your views on the opportunities and designs which could see the Custom House brought back into use as a multi-purpose public building which would be visible, active, and welcoming to all. After consulting with stakeholders and local organisations, the council is working towards shaping a preferred option for the building’s future use. The designs for the Custom House aim to respect the heritage of this important King’s Lynn building and provide flexible space that could be put to various uses, including exhibitions, and events.
Light-touch revitalisation of the Custom House and historic setting is part of a wider vision to maximise the potential of the town’s historic riverfront, recognised as a currently-underused asset, and attract more people to the area, while protecting, respecting and preserving its unique heritage.
The council is taking a minimum-intervention approach to revitalisation that will retain almost all the historic fabric, including the west elevation window fabric and the north and south elevation doors, and see the whole building carefully cleaned and conserved. An application for listed building consent was submitted in July 2025 and will look to install a platform lift, an accessible toilet on the ground floor and upgraded and increased toilets on the second floor. These are core works, required to ensure the building is welcoming for all, meets accessibility standards and supports flexible use.
The first floor will tell the story of the Custom House from its origins in 1683 and of King’s Lynn’s historic maritime past. The ground floor will have a small “café-lite” plus a room for local art exhibitions. Occasional public/private events could be hosted in the evenings and on closed days.
We have also developed proposals to revitalise a vacant site next to Devil’s Alley as a public space for the community, a place that could offer a range of uses, including events and activities throughout the year. Following stakeholder and resident feedback, it was agreed in early 2025 to review this element of the scheme, full details available here. Further updates on the next steps for future phases of the riverfront is expected in Autumn 2025.
