September 22, 2010 6.11 pm This story is over 171 months old

Paving the way for a new shopping complex

New look: The Sincil Street area is getting a revamp as part of plans to add a new retail area to Lincoln.

A pedestrianised shopping area in Lincoln’s city centre will be revamped as part of a project to potentially introduce a new retail complex.

The revamp, named the Gateway Project, is the prelude to Lincoln BIG’s plan for the Sincil Street and City Square bus station area, called Lindongate.

Chief executive of Lincoln BIG Matt Corrigan said: “Lindongate will be a fantastic investment in the city centre.

What the Lindongate project would change (click to enlarge).

“It has every prospect of going ahead as market conditions improve, but in the interim it is important to maintain the look and feel of the area for existing businesses.

“The prospect of major future changes can make people reluctant to make short-term investments.

“This factor has meant that the level of shop vacancies in this area is higher than in other parts of the city centre, and it is more difficult to attract trade here.”

Improvements promised to keep existing businesses within the Sincil Street area include repaving, added signage, and landscaping.

So far, the street has seen various alterations such as better toilet facilities, floral displays and shop improvements.

More activities intended to attract custom to the City Square area include the recent summer beach, and the Ice Rink, which is set to return later this year.

Sincil Street Traders’ Association chairman Barry Reeves said: “The investment in things like flowers and repainted shop fronts helped to keep the area looking good.

“Traders have been particularly pleased with the beach, which has bought lots of people into the area and created a real buzz.”

After the Gateway Project is complete, the company hopes to get started on a proposed new £100m retail area.

The Lindongate plans will add a new shopping mall to the area and will see the bus station moved next to Lincoln Central train station.

Meanwhile, Lincolnshire Co-Op, who own the City Square bus station building, are following the progress of Lindongate’s planning application, which sets out to replace the current bus station with the new complex.

Source: Lincoln BIG | Photo: Lindongate Lincoln