December 30, 2016 1.32 pm This story is over 87 months old

2016: A year of developments in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire has been a hub of development over the last 12 months, with business expansions and new companies coming to the county. Here’s a recap of some of the biggest developments in Lincolnshire in 2016: Something for the weekend A new off-ice rink opened in Gainsborough in October, the first of its kind in the UK. SK8Z was officially…

Lincolnshire has been a hub of development over the last 12 months, with business expansions and new companies coming to the county.

Here’s a recap of some of the biggest developments in Lincolnshire in 2016:

Something for the weekend

A new off-ice rink opened in Gainsborough in October, the first of its kind in the UK. SK8Z was officially announced in August and includes a skating pad, cafe and car park and provides public skating sessions and lessons.

The venue will be demolished and rebuilt. Photo: Google Street View.

Plans for a new Skegness family entertainment centre were submitted in August in the former Grand Central complex which will be demolished and replaced to also include escalators and lifts.

These plans were approved in September and will now see the erection of a two-storey entertainment centre, which will include a ten-pin bowling alley, cafes and restaurants.

The sport centre is expected to be completed by winter 2017

Work started on the new £5.5 million Axholme North Sports Centre in Crowle in November.

The new site will include A MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) for football, hockey and other sports, tennis and netball courts, a four-lane 25m swimming pool, gym, fitness studio, spectator area and changing rooms.

Photo: Extreme

The first images for Grimsby Town FC’s proposed £55 million community stadium and leisure development have also been released this month.

The proposals being considered include a 14,000 capacity football stadium, a new ice rink facility, additional sports and leisure facilities, retail and food and beverage outlets.

Lincoln Transport Hub

Designs for the new Lincoln Transport Hub. Image: CoLC

Councillors started to consider blueprints for the new £29 million Lincoln Transport Hub back in January. After several revisions, plans were finally agreed in March.

The City of Lincoln Council provided a temporary bus station on Tentercroft Street, which opened in August in preparation for the demolition of the site.

Once complete, the new hub will create 1,000 new car parking spaces, a new bus station and railway improvements.

Work on the new Transport Hub is still underway and is expected to be completed in early 2018.

A place for shopping

The first designs for the new Lincoln St Marks development, including shops, a hotel and accommodation.

It was announced in November that St Marks shopping precinct is in line for a £150 million revamp, with plans to demolish the western section to make way for new shops, a hotel and flats.

The plans would see around eight businesses pulled down and replaced, including Toys R Us, Toby Carvery, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Homebase, the former Lidl and a two-storey car park. Proposals will be considered by the city’s planning department at a later date.

Artist impression of the new designer outlet village, Grantham

Plans have also been revealed for a new £100 million Grantham Designer Outlet Village. The development is expected to create around 1,500 new jobs and attract up to 3.5 million visitors each year.

Still in its consultation stage, if plans are given the green light, construction of the 270,000 sq ft village would start in 2018-19, with the first phase anticipated to open by spring 2020.

Cornhill vision

Artist impression of the new look Cornhill Quarter

The first three national retailers have been confirmed for the £70 million Cornhill Quarter regeneration and will be opening in summer 2017: Cosy Club restaurant, Danish home and general store Flying Tiger Copenhagen, formerly Tiger, and men’s formal wear fashion brand Moss Bros. Demolition of the old building extensions started in September.

Easing traffic

An aerial view of the ongoing Grantham Southern Relief Road. Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

The Grantham Relief Road was finally completed in August, following 10 months of work. It took 20,000 hours of labour, 11,500 tonnes of tarmac and over 3,000 kerb stones to complete the 400m section of road marking the first phase of a four-year traffic relief project.

Lincoln’s Eastern Bypass

Also on the cards is a new £96 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass, which already has contractors lined up and ready to start. Work will officially begin in January. 

A new place for education

The University of Lincoln Riseholme Campus. Photo: UoL

The University of Lincoln revealed its £20 million masterplan for the redevelopment of the Riseholme campus in March.

The scheme would include 180 new homes (previously 750) and agri-food and heritage education facilities.

However, proposals have been met with objections over the redevelopment. These protests have led to the government announcing possible legal action against the University of Lincoln for its plans to demolish parts of the current Riseholme College campus to develop housing.

Designs for the University of Lincoln’s Sarah Swift Building. Photo: BAM Construction

Designs were also revealed for the new £12.5 million University of Lincoln Sarah Swift building on the site of the Lincoln’s former Pea Warehouse in March, which will house the Schools of Health and Social Care and Psychology.

Construction is set to be completed in May 2017.

Offshore Wind Farms

The government gave the go ahead for a new £224 million offshore wind farm in September, which will allow the connection of the turbines to the national grid, powering to 800,000 UK homes.

The development of Triton Knoll is expected to create 800 jobs for its construction alone, with an additional 220 for its operation.

Vroom Vroom

Able UK has secured a £25 million contract with BMW, allowing the German car maker to create a new import base and is expected to create 100 new jobs for the region.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.