AMBITIOUS plans to regenerate a rundown waterfront site in Lowestoft with the construction of 650 new homes have been tabled by developers.The Brooke Peninsula would also feature a new marina, offices, shops and a retirement home as part of the proposals lodged with Waveney District Council.

AMBITIOUS plans to regenerate a rundown waterfront site in Lowestoft with the construction of 650 new homes have been tabled by developers.

The Brooke Peninsula would also feature a new marina, offices, shops and a retirement home as part of the proposals lodged with Waveney District Council.

The site, off Heath Road, was previously home to the Brooke Marine shipyard and has been highlighted as a key area for redevelopment by 1st East, the urban regeneration company (URC).

Outline plans show that the applicant, Shaun Keegan of CKS Development, wants to build 550 one, two and three-bedroom flats, and 100 houses by the banks of Lake Lothing.

The new marina would feature 130 berths for boats while a continuing care retirement home is planned to have more than 200 bedrooms.

Mr Keegan was unavailable for comment yesterday, but in planning documents submitted to Waveney Council, agents acting on his behalf say: "The development will regenerate an existing brownfield site previously used for industrial purposes, including shipbuilding, into a mixed-use, residential-led development.

"The building and structures on site are bordering on derelict and in a very poor state of repair. The site and general area is in need of regeneration.

"The impact of the proposed regeneration project at Lake Lothing will be of significant beneficial impact to the surrounding area. Socio-economic factors, which are directly related to the development, include increase in property value, creation of additional housing and increased employment."

The site earmarked for redevelopment covers about 12.5 hectares and currently houses the Brooke Business and Industrial Park, but the planning application says its closure is "inevitable" because of its poor economic performance.

Plans show the site will feature a 20-storey tower, landscaped open space and new footpaths and cycleways. Developers have also revealed proposals to raise the level of the land to reduce the risk of flooding.

1st East has highlighted six areas around Lowestoft where it will concentrate on attracting millions of pounds of new investment.

As well as increasing the opportunities for new business, a blueprint also reveals proposals to build 1,500 new homes on brownfield sites in the town. This will go a significant way towards enabling Waveney to meet its government housing targets of building 335 new homes every year until 2021.

Sally Spore, district councillor for the area covering the Brooke Peninsula, said: "I think generally, anything that is going to regenerate Lowestoft is a good thing. In terms of providing homes, we've also got government targets to meet."

A spokesman for 1st East said it was not directly involved in the application made to Waveney, but added: "We support it in terms of the fact it takes the process forward."

People can inspect the application at Waveney's planning office in Mariners Street, Lowestoft, until January 31.