A new £7 million technology centre for subsea controls and communications is to be built in Great Yarmouth.

Construction on the 65,000 sq ft Beacon Park site in Gorleston-on-Sea is now underway and Completion is scheduled for March 2018.

The development will feature modern office, manufacturing and yard space and provides the flexibility to add a further 20,000 sq ft of workshop capacity. Around 190 employees will consolidate from two sites in the area into the new facility.

Beacon Park is part of the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone, which focuses on attracting and supporting energy-related businesses within the East of England. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has invested £4.5m in the base, which the council is also developing, with £1.5m coming from New Anglia LEP's Growing Places Fund. Proserv will be funding the remaining sum.

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David Lamont, Proserv Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said: "Consolidating operations into a modern purpose-built site will make us leaner, more efficient and better placed to deliver for our global customer base, whilst creating capacity for future expansion. The centre will serve as a global hub and Centre of Excellence for our subsea communication and controls activities and ensures we remain at the forefront of our field.

"I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Great Yarmouth Borough Council for their unwavering support over the years in getting us to this exciting stage."

In a joint statement, the council's political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: "This landmark development on the Enterprise Zone reflects Great Yarmouth long-standing position as a global offshore energy capital and Beacon Park's reputation as the location of choice for energy investment and growth.

"The borough council is committed to supporting any businesses with aspirations to relocate to or expand within the area. This success has come about through close partnership working across the public and private sectors, and we look forward to welcoming Proserv and its staff to Beacon Park early next year."

(LM)