Editing Lowestoft (section)

==Economy==
Originally based on fishing and engineering, the economy of Lowestoft has declined over the years.<ref name="aldous">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111122142421/http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Commons/ByDate/20101014/mainchamberdebates/part008.html 'East Coast Inshore Fishing Fleet'], ''Hansard'', 14 October 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> Although the tourism sector has grown, the major employers in the town are the wholesale and retail sector, with 18 per cent of employment.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} 
Service industries, including health, social care and education are significant employers, while manufacturing employs about 10 per cent of the workforce.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Employment can vary seasonally due to the importance of tourism to the economy.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} In early 2011, around 10 per cent of the working population of the town claimed [[Jobseekers Allowance]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

===Traditional industries===
[[File:Trawler Mincarlo, Lowestoft, 13th June 2009 (17).JPG|right|thumb|Traditional trawler, the [[Mincarlo (trawler)|Mincarlo]], now a museum ship]]
Until the mid-1960s, fishing was seen as Lowestoft's main industry,<ref name="poppy" /> although from the 1930s the percentage so employed directly and in trades associated with fishing was actually only about 10 per cent.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Fleets of [[Drifter (fishing boat)|drifter]]s and [[Fishing trawler|trawler]]s caught fish such as [[herring]], [[cod]] and [[plaice]]. Catches have diminished since the 1960s<ref name="bbcfilm">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/nationonfilm/topics/fishing/background_decline.shtml Fish stocks dwindle], BBC Nation on film. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> and although 100 boats remained by the 1980s, there are now only a few small boats operating out of Lowestoft, with no large trawlers.<ref name="aldous"/><ref name="bbcfish27dec07">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7154055.stm Fears for Suffolk fishing industry], BBC news website, 27 December 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="bbcfish080630">Madslien.J (2008) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7448361.stm Fishermen fight for brighter future], BBC news website, 30 June 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> By 2011 just three traders remained at the town's fish market, which is under threat of closure due to redevelopment of the [[Port of Lowestoft|port]].<ref name="bbc30mar11">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-12908874 Fears for future of Lowestoft fish market], BBC news website, 11 March 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.</ref><ref name="edp29mar11">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/end_of_an_era_beckons_for_lowestoft_fish_market_1_843560 End of an era beckons for Lowestoft fish market], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 29 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref> The [[Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science]] (CEFAS), a large fisheries research centre that is a part of [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Defra]], is still located in Lowestoft.<ref name="aldous"/>

Other major traditional employers included [[Eastern Coach Works]] and engineering and shipbuilding companies clustered around the [[Port of Lowestoft|harbour]].<ref name="poppy"/><ref name="aldous"/> These included the [[Brooke Marine]] and [[Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd|Richards]] shipbuilding companies, which together employed over a thousand men but went out of business in the 1990s, and the Norwich-based engineering company [[Boulton & Paul Ltd|Boulton and Paul]].<ref name="poppy"/><ref name="bbc03dec09">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/8393399.stm Timber factory closure announced], BBC news website, 3 December 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> Some shipbuilding and repair still goes on at the harbour.<ref name="bbc28jun08">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7479338.stm 'Oldest' steamship gets £2m refit], BBC news website, 28 June 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="bbcwherry">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2008/01/23/albion_gc_feature.shtml New start for grand old lady], BBC Suffolk, 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>

===Modern economy===
[[File:Lowestoft 10-4-2004.jpg|thumb|Windfarm construction in Lowestoft harbour|alt=Image of harbour with windfarm construction]]
Major local employers include [[Birds Eye]] frozen foods, with 700 workers.<ref name="aldous"/><ref name="bbc04feb10">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8498000/8498194.stm Farmers hit as Birds Eye, Lowestoft loses peas contract], BBC news website, 4 February 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="bbc05oct10">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11477579 East Anglian pea farmers sign frozen food deal], BBC news website, 5 October 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> This has been located in the town for over 60 years.<ref name="bbc07nov03">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/3250011.stm Jobs safe at Birds Eye factory], BBC news website, 7 November 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> The food-processing company Wessex Foods closed its Lowestoft plant in 2010 after a fire destroyed the factory and it failed to find alternative premises.<ref name="bbc29oct10">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-11653120 Staff at fire-hit burger factory in Lowestoft lose jobs], BBC news website, 29 October 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>

Several other employers have shed labour in recent years. The [[Sanyo]] plant in the town closed down in 2009 with a loss of 60 jobs,<ref name="bbc12jan09">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7825112.stm Sanyo to shut down monitor plant], BBC news website, 1 December 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> having once employed 800.<ref name="bbc17mar10">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8571847.stm Sanyo TV monitor factory site in Lowestoft up for sale], BBC news website, 17 March 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> The timber company [[Jeld-Wen]] closed its factory in the town in 2010.<ref name="bbc03dec09"/>

From the mid-1960s to the late 1990s, the [[Petroleum industry|oil and gas industry]] provided significant employment in the area.<ref name="offshore">[http://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/offshore-industry-timeline.pdf Offshore industry timeline], Great Yarmouth Council. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> For many years the [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Southern Operations base on the north shore of [[Port of Lowestoft|Lowestoft Harbour]] was town's largest employer.<ref name="offshore"/> A decision to close the Shell base was finally made in 2003.<ref name="bbcshell">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2909843.stm Talks over Shell shutdown], BBC news website, 3 April 2003. Retrieved 14 June 2009.</ref> Oil and gas is still a major industry.<ref name="yartoft">[http://www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk/content/economic-intelligence-members/March%20Yartoft.pdf Great Yarmouth and Waveney March 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323002733/http://www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk/content/economic-intelligence-members/March%20Yartoft.pdf |date=23 March 2012}} ''Shaping Norfolk's Future'', March 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="gymi">[http://www.gymi.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=7&startnum=70 International acclaim for innovation in oil and gas] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323002733/http://www.gymi.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=7&startnum=70 |date=23 March 2012}}, Great Yarmouth marketing initiative, 17 May 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="abpoil">[http://www.abports.co.uk/news2000629.htm Lowestoft delivers gas platform], associated British Ports, 11 May 2000. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>

The town has made efforts to develop as a centre for [[renewable energy]] in the east of England.<ref name=scctran11>[http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/suffolk.gov.uk/Environment%20and%20Transport/Planning/2011-06-29%20Lowestoft%20Transport%20Strategy.pdf Lowestoft transport strategy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327221318/http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/suffolk.gov.uk/Environment%20and%20Transport/Planning/2011-06-29%20Lowestoft%20Transport%20Strategy.pdf |date=27 March 2014}}, Suffolk County Council, 29 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2013.</ref><ref name="bbc25mar05">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/4380747.stm Plan for £6m green energy centre], BBC news website, 25 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> The non-profit Orbis Energy centre has been set up to draw business in the green-energy sector and features [[Passive solar building design|solar thermal heating]].<ref name="bbc26feb07">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6398857.stm Meeting on green energy in East], BBC news website, 26 February 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="bbc26dec07">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7159542.stm Low carbon work boosted by £80m], BBC news website, 26 December 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref><ref name="sworksorbis">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232541/http://www.suffolkworks.co.uk/suffolk.asp?slevel=0z219z403&parent_id=403 Orbis Energy], Suffolk works. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref><ref name=orbis>[http://www.orbisenergy.net/ OrbisEnergy Website]. Retrieved 20 May 2009.</ref> In April 2009, [[Associated British Ports]] announced that the harbour is to become the operations centre for the 500 MW [[Greater Gabbard wind farm]], which when completed will be the world's largest [[Offshore wind power|offshore windfarm]]. The turbines will be located {{convert|15|mi|km|0}} off the Suffolk coast and the Outer Harbour will be used to house the necessary operational support facilities. Other developments in the renewable energy sector include a prototype [[Tidal power|tidal energy]] generator being produced by local company 4NRG<ref name="bbc02feb11">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-12350707 Suffolk firm's wave energy machine gets backing] BBC news website, 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref> and [[wave power]] systems developed by Trident Energy.<ref name="bbc02nov10">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-11675222 Wave power machine tested on land], BBC news website, 10 November 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>

Hoseasons (now part of [[Awaze]]), a specialist in self-catering UK holidays, is also a large employment provider.<ref>[http://rainbowsaversangliacu.onesuffolk.net/contact-us/ Your Credit Union] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207035023/http://rainbowsaversangliacu.onesuffolk.net/contact-us/ |date=7 February 2015}} Rainbow Saver Anglia Credit Union (retrieved 6 February 2015)</ref>

===Retailing===
The town centre is the main shopping area in Waveney district.<ref name="retail">[http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/download.php?fileID=197 Retail and Leisure Study: Summary] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115634/http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/download.php?fileID=197 |date=19 July 2011 }}, Waveney District Council, 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> The retail chain [[Marks & Spencer]] has a store. Chadds independent department store was founded in 1907, and after nearly 100 years trading in the High Street, was taken over in 2004 by the [[Great Yarmouth]]-based Palmers group.<ref name="palmers">[http://www.palmerstores.com/our-stores/Lowestoft-72.php Lowestoft], Palmers Department Store. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref><ref name="edp17jan07">[http://www.edp24.co.uk/norfolk-life/how_we_re_keeping_our_independents_1_694095 How we're keeping our independents], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 17 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref> Specialist shopping areas, branded as The Historic High Street and the Triangle Market Place, have been developed on the northern edge of the centre. Several retail parks have appeared, the largest being North Quay Retail Park in Peto Way.

===Tourism===
[[File:Lowestoft beach crowd - geograph.org.uk - 1420548.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Lowestoft beach crowd|Lowestoft beach at the airshow]]
Lowestoft is a traditional [[seaside resort]], first developed as a bathing site in the 1760s.<ref name="edplow" /> The coast has been called the "[[The Sunrise Coast|Sunrise Coast]]". The town's main beaches are south of the harbour, where two [[pier]]s, the [[Claremont Pier|Claremont]] and South piers, provide tourist facilities, and the East Point Pavilion the tourist information service.<ref name="edplow"/><ref name="bbcaug07">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2005/07/04/coast05beaches_lowestoft_feature.shtml Suffolk's beaches: Lowestoft], BBC Suffolk. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The beach south of the Claremont Pier is a [[Blue Flag beach]].<ref name=bbc22may13>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-22614601 Blue Flag awards given to 55 beaches in England], BBC news website, 22 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-22.</ref> Lifeguard facilities are provided during the summer and water sports take place along the coast.<ref name="bbcaug07"/> Tourism is a significant aspect of the town's economy.<ref name=scctran11/>

The town features two major attractions, the first being [[Pleasurewood Hills]] Theme Park, situated on the northern edge of the town,<ref name="hills">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2007/02/22/wipeout_work_begins_campbell_feature.shtml Wipeout], BBC Suffolk, 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> while the second is the [[Africa Alive!]] wildlife park, situated in the south at [[Kessingland]]. The town maintains a holiday park at [[Pakefield]], operated by [[Pontins]],<ref name="yartoft"/> and a small caravan site near its northern beach. The natural attractions of the [[The Broads|Broads]] and the [[River Waveney]] on the west edge of the town, also attract visitors and been the site for boat trips and water sports events, with companies such as Hoseasons operating hire boats from [[Oulton Broad]].<ref name="yartoft"/>

Between 1996 and 2012, the town hosted a major air show during the summer, dubbed the Lowestoft Airshow. A major attraction, the two-day event took place in August, and featuring a wide range of aircraft including the [[Red Arrows]], a [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster bomber]], [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]s and an [[Avro Vulcan]].<ref name="bbcair">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2009/07/21/lowestoft_airshow_2009_feature.shtml Lowestoft air festival], BBC Suffolk, 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> From 2004, it was run by Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Ltd, a non-profit company, but suffered financial difficulties. In 2010, the event made a loss of £40,000 and raised concerns over its sustainability,<ref name="lj25feb11">[http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/lowestoft_air_festival_sponsor_appeal_goes_nationwide_1_813162 Lowestoft Air Festival sponsor appeal goes nationwide], ''Lowestoft Journal'' 25 February 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.</ref><ref name="evnews26jan11">[http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/lowestoft_air_show_in_fund_raising_drive_1_783931 Lowestoft air show in fund-raising drive], ''Norwich Evening News'' 26 January 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.</ref> whereupon further financial difficulties coupled with bad weather and low visitor numbers made the 2012 airshow the last before it was discontinued.<ref name=bbc25jul12>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-18979621 Lowestoft Air Festival cancelled for 2013], BBC news website, 25 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.</ref><ref name=anglia25jul12>[http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-07-25/lowestoft-air-show-to-end-after-cash-blow/ Lowestoft Air Show to end after cash blow], ITV Anglia, 25 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.</ref><ref name=bbc14mar14>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-26576410 Lowestoft Air Festival will "definitely" not take place again], BBC news website, 14 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.</ref>

Near the town centre is [[Lowestoft Maritime Museum]], open from late April to late October, which has exhibits of maritime artefacts, an extensive collection of ship models and medals, marine art, fishing and the fishing industry, activities with the Royal Navy in WWII, and shipwrights' and coopers' tools.

===Redevelopment===
[[File:Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth at night.jpg|thumb|upright|Lowestoft (right) and [[Great Yarmouth]] (left) at night]]
Lowestoft is among the more socially deprived areas in Suffolk, with [[Kirkley]] the county's most deprived ward, ranking 173rd most deprived in England out of 32,486.<ref name=wavprofile/> The area attracted [[European Union]] redevelopment funding. The Waveney Sunrise Scheme invested £14.7 million, funding transport improvements and tourist facilities such as fountains on Royal Plain, as stimulants.<ref name="fountains">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2005/06/21/lowestoft_fountains_feature.shtml Fountain fun], BBC Suffolk, 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="sccsunrise">[http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/BusinessAndConsumer/RegenerationAndCommunityDevelopment/LowestoftSunriseScheme.htm Lowestoft Sunrise Scheme] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308154655/http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/BusinessAndConsumer/RegenerationAndCommunityDevelopment/LowestoftSunriseScheme.htm |date=8 March 2012}}, Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> Regeneration company 1st East, which focused on the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth areas, closed in 2011.<ref name="bbc27jan11">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12298500 Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft regeneration firm 1st East shuts], BBC news website, 27 January 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>

[[Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone]] was announced in 2011 and launched in April 2012.<ref name=edp12jan12>Dickson A (2012) [http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/great_yarmouth_and_lowestoft_enterprise_zone_interest_from_around_the_world_1_1174961 Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft enterprise zone interest from around the world] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923233908/http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/great_yarmouth_and_lowestoft_enterprise_zone_interest_from_around_the_world_1_1174961 |date=23 September 2015 }}, ''[[Eastern Daily Press]]'', 12 January 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2015.</ref> The zone, developed by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, has six redevelopment sites across Lowestoft and [[Great Yarmouth]]. The bid for the zone in 2011 envisaged creating 13,500 jobs by 2036.<ref name="edp17aug11">Dickson.A (2011) [http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/business-features/great_yarmouth_and_lowestoft_enterprise_zone_given_the_green_light_1_996462 Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft enterprise zone given the green light] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113085144/http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/business-features/great_yarmouth_and_lowestoft_enterprise_zone_given_the_green_light_1_996462 |date=13 November 2011}}, ''Eastern Daily Press'', 17 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.</ref> It involved the Norfolk and Suffolk Energy Alliance and focused on developing the energy sector initially using tax incentives, simplified planning regulations and the provision of improved broadband internet services.<ref name="edp17aug11"/> The sites in Lowestoft are Mobbs Way, Riverside Road and South Lowestoft Industrial Estate.<ref name=edp12jan12/>

Associated British Ports, the operator of the Port of Lowestoft, published their Lowestoft Masterplan, which aims to regenerate the harbour and take advantage of renewable energy, including the new Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) on the former SLP land at the outer harbour amongst other projects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lowestoft Masterplan |url=https://vision.abpmer.net/lowestoft-masterplan/ |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=vision.abpmer.net}}</ref> The harbour is a focus of redevelopment proposals for Lowestoft through the Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour [[Area Action Plan]], submitted in February 2011.<ref name="aap">[http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=117&categoryID=200140&pageNumber=2 An introduction to the Area Action Plan for Central Lowestoft] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115839/http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=117&categoryID=200140&pageNumber=2 |date=19 July 2011}}, Waveney District Council. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref> The plan focuses on the redevelopment of [[Brownfield land|brownfield site]]s in and around the harbour area to create jobs, particularly in the renewable energy and retailing sectors.<ref name=scctran11/><ref name="aapwhat">[http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=117&categoryID=200140&pageNumber=1#pagenavbox What is the Area Action Plan?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115858/http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=117&categoryID=200140&pageNumber=1 |date=19 July 2011}}, Waveney District Council. Retrieved 30 April 2011.</ref><ref name="edp14oct10">Mace. H (2010) [http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/vision_for_future_of_lowestoft_harbour_1_679054 Vision for future of Lowestoft harbour], ''Eastern Daily Press'', 14 October 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2011.</ref>