Investment and regeneration in Grimsby and Cleethorpes is booming – including new housing, and a development that will completely transform the look of Grimsby town centre’s south side.
The good news was outlined by Council Leader Philip Jackson in his latest update to council members at a recent meeting at Grimsby Town Hall.
He highlighted a deal signed with Keepmoat to deliver 130 homes on Alexandra Dock, rejuvenating a 6.25-acre brownfield site in the heart of Grimsby town centre. “It is the first town centre housing in a generation, working in partnership with Homes England, part of the masterplan to diversify use of town centre,” said Coun Jackson. “It will open up the waterfront; £7.8 million of Towns Fund monies, plus brownfield land release funding to make site viable.”
He also outlined the recent news of the demolision of Abbey Walk multi-storey car park for structural reasons. As reported, it is to be replaced with a 120-bay surface car park, and Burgess Street car park is set to be developed into a Transport Hub. “This is in the early stages, using BSIP monies and brownfield land release funding – on land purchased by council 3 years ago – to demolish ugly buildings on Osbourne Street,” said Coun Jackson. “There will be further stages as more funding becomes available, and this will completely change the look of the south side of town centre.”
In Cleethorpes, work is ongoing on site at Sea Road to prepare it for a new, iconic building. “There has been renewed interest from potential operators and an announcement is coming soon,” he said.
Coun Jackson also updated members about the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, describing it as a “massive strategic opportunity” for North East Lincolnshire and the wider area.
He then went on to say that two early Labour Government decisions have been bad news for the borough.
“Scrapping winter fuel payments means more than 26,000 pensioners in North East Lincolnshire will lose out, meaning a £5 million to £8 million loss to the local economy,” he said.
He also outlined implications of the National Planning Policy Framework reforms. “We need more homes nationally, but a top-down directed approach is not right,” he added.
Finally, Coun Jackson said following a recent Ofsted monitoring visit, inspectors were assured that “clear progress and improvement continues to be made, though there is still work to do.”