Southgates Masterplan
SOUTHGATES MASTERPLAN
Town Investment Plan theme: Sustainably Connected Town
This project is focussed on protecting the past and investing in the future.
A partnership led by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk is reimagining the Southgates area.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Southgates area is a strategic location for the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and a priority for the King’s Lynn Transport Strategy and the Town Investment Plan.
The vision for Southgates is to create an attractive and active gateway to King’s Lynn, which draws upon the rich past of the site in order to meet the needs of the present day, and optimise benefits for the town’s residents and visitors alike. The site’s heritage assets will be revealed and enhanced through sensitive retention and conversion where appropriate.
The Grade I listed South Gate will be the centrepiece to the area, retaining its historic function as the entrance to the town, with an improved setting that is no longer compromised by vehicle dominance. This will be aided by improvement and simplification of the road junction, delivered through the STARS project by Norfolk County Council, to ensure efficient movement of motorised vehicles alongside safe and convenient pedestrian and cyclist access, encouraging modal shift through connections to existing and future active travel routes surrounding the site.
Provision of significant areas of public realm and green space will offer opportunities for recreation and reflection, integrating with the existing offer within and beyond the site, and capitalising on connections to the River Nar. New development will place environmental sustainability at its heart, ensuring a high quality of amenity and addressing the challenges of flood risk and climate change.
New mixed-use development will provide high quality new homes for the community, together with commercial and retail uses which activate the area as a local destination, serve the needs of the town’s people, and complement both existing provision on London Road and planned development within the site’s surrounds.
The ambition is for all new development to create a first and lasting impression that is worthy of the town, its historic past and future needs.
This project is led by Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk and further information is available on the Borough Council’s Southgates and King’s Lynn Transport Study and Strategy pages.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Project timeline to be added at a later date.
DOCUMENTS
FAQ
Why are you doing this?
Southgates is an important gateway into King’s Lynn, with the Grade I listed South Gate at its heart. We have an opportunity to improve this area, whilst respecting and protecting the heritage, making it a more attractive and active route into the town, and an area that offers a better experience for the local community and visitors alike.
What is the Southgates Masterplan?
The Southgates Masterplan sets out a comprehensive vision for revitalising this area. Its ambitious goals include transforming the area into a welcoming, vibrant gateway that promotes safer, greener travel, improved public spaces, and diverse mixed-use development. By respecting the area’s rich history while embracing the future, the Southgates Masterplan aims to create a thriving future community.
What area does the Southgates Masterplan cover?
Who is behind the Southgates Masterplan?
The Southgates Masterplan is being led by a partnership of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council, working with specialists including BDP, a multidisciplinary design practice.
What is included in the Southgates Masterplan?
The Southgates Masterplan, developed in 2022, outlines a vision for improving the public realm, green spaces, and creating development opportunities within the area. This plan proposes high-quality residential options, alongside commercial and retail spaces, to meet the needs of the community.
Central to the Masterplan is the STARS (Sustainable Transport and Regeneration Scheme) project. To allow for the creation of the improved public spaces and mixed-use developments, the Southgates Masterplan requires changes to the road network. These changes will be implemented as part of the STARS project, led by Norfolk County Council.
What is the STARS project?
One of the first phases of the Southgates masterplan to come forward, the STARS project – which has received £24M in government funding – focuses on improving active travel to benefit the environment and people’s health by creating a revised junction layout. The project also aims to introduce measures that will benefit, pedestrians, and cyclists and enhance the setting of the historic South Gate through diversion of the road around the scheduled monument.
You can find out more about the STARS project on the Norfolk County Council website.
What consultation has been carried out?
Public consultation on the Masterplan took place 3-31 October 2022. A copy of the Consultation Report is available to view.
In addition, there has been significant stakeholder consultation to develop the Masterplan. Further consultation with stakeholders will be carried out in autumn 2024, with public consultation planned for 2025.
How will you protect the heritage of this area?
The Grade I listed South Gate will be the centrepiece to the area, continuing to function as the entrance to the town. The Masterplan draws upon the rich past of this area in order to meet the needs of the present day, and the heritage assets here will be revealed and enhanced through the sensitive improvement works.
What stage is the Southgates Masterplan currently at?
Outline designs for the public realm and green space and the development plots have been developed and will be refined in the coming months.
How will the masterplan be delivered?
The masterplan will be delivered in phases in order to minimise and manage any disruption, and as funding is secured for key elements of the scheme. The STARS project will be the first phase of the masterplan to be delivered.
How is the masterplan funded?
£24M in government funding has been allocated for the delivery of the STARS element of the masterplan. Market testing and funding opportunities for the other elements of the masterplan are being explored.
What are the timescales?
Further development of the designs for the public realm and development plots are taken place in 2024 , with a stakeholder workshop planned for autumn 2024.
Recommendations for the development sites and landscaping will be provided to the council’s cabinet in 2025.
Public consultation is also set to take place in 2025.
How does Southgates fit in with other investment and improvements in King’s Lynn?
The Southgates Masterplan is part of the overall regeneration being delivered in King’s Lynn. In particular, the improvements proposed at Southgates form part of the work around active and clean connectivity in the town. This programme of work is about taking long-term and vital action so the town centre can be accessible for everyone, offering easier access for many more people so that travelling around King’s Lynn can be healthier, cheaper, and quicker.
What we do now will reduce the build-up of traffic on our roads in the years to come so we can all play our part in improving air quality and reducing our carbon footprint.
More information is available about the Active and Clean Connectivity programme of work.
How can I find out more?
Please do get in touch with us on visionkl@west-norfolk.gov.uk.
CONSULTATION
Public consultation on the Masterplan took place 3-31 October 2022. A copy of the Consultation Report can be viewed here.
The consultation launched at 6pm on Monday 3 October with a presentation and Q&A session, chaired by Cllr Richard Blunt. A series of information boards were available to view at different locations in King’s Lynn and online during the consultation period.
The presentation can be viewed on the recording below: