Food and Health & Safety Service Plan 2024-25 - Flipbook - Page 7
2.0 Background
2.1 Proole of the Local Authority
The proole of East Sufolk is set out in our Economic Strategy 2022 3 2027.
Located on the east coast of England, East Sufolk is a diverse local economy, with both
outstanding economic assets and potential, and in some areas, continuing regeneration
challenges.
East Sufolk has a population of 248,000 with 81,000 people living in the north around
Lowestoft, 25,000 living in the south around Felixstowe and about 3,000-10,000 living in market
towns such as Woodbridge, Leiston, Framlingham, Saxmundham, Beccles, and Bungay, which
are distributed across the middle of the district.
Micro and small businesses are found in abundance across the area. There are over 9,500
businesses within East Sufolk and the vast majority of these are small (fewer than 10
employees). In addition, there is a high incidence of self-employment, particularly in the south of
the area. Throughout, the role of micro and small businesses in sustaining the fabric of
economic life across East Sufolk is critical.
Alongside micro and small businesses, orms that have grown to at least medium size must be
acknowledged. They act as anchors for their local communities, support local supply chains and
represent opportunities for sustainable growth which can result in creation of employment
opportunities for residents. They are often local, family-owned businesses and although not well
known outside of East Sufolk, within it, their role is crucial. The area also hosts important
economic assets and ofers opportunities that are amongst the most signiocant in the UK.
These include: The Port of Felixstowe - the UK9s busiest container port; Adastral Park; BT9s Global
Research and Development Headquarters; The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and
Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) - an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Afairs; The Port of Lowestoft, a key location for the ofshore clean energy industry,
The East Anglia Array (including East Anglia ONE), Sizewell (including Sizewell C, Europe9s largest
infrastructure project).
The natural capital in the district supports a very distinctive and diverse visitor economy. This
includes traditional seaside tourism, major festivals and events, attractions in market/ coastal
towns, outstanding landscapes, renowned heritage assets and a growing range of quality
cultural/heritage activities. However, the economic asset represented by the visitor economy
will be compromised if the natural capital represented by the beautiful environment is not
protected while being enjoyed. Together, they demand attention and require careful
management to develop their full potential in economic terms.
WE ARE EASTSUFFOLK
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