2016: A year of developments in Lincoln

Over the course of the last 12 months, the Lincoln skyline has changed and continues to do so with more construction in line.

Businesses across the city have expanded with purpose-built sites and revitalised old buildings.

The city centre has undergone drastic changes, which has included road layouts and work is underway to change the way the High Street looks, bringing bigger store names to the city.

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

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Lincoln Transport Hub

Councillors started to consider plans 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.

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A place for shopping

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.

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Cornhill vision

The first three national retailers have been confirmed for the £70 million Cornhill Quarter regeneration and will be opening in summer 2017.

Demolition of the old building extensions started in September.

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New life for The Lawn

After nearly two years of planning and bidding, the keys to Lincoln’s iconic site and buildings at The Lawn were officially handed over to RW Stokes & Sons to create its new £2 million head office in August.

Work officially started in December to convert the former ‘lunatic asylum’ off Union Road to include new café, coffee roastery, restaurant, offices, shops, a barista training centre and a theatre, as well as serving as the new headquarters for the Lincoln based company.

Green space at the site has also been turned into more car parking spaces.

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Easing traffic

After months of traffic congestion and road closures, the new £22 million East West Link Road opened in the city centre in August, paving the way for ‘potential hotels, restaurants and 300 jobs’.

Also on the cards is a new £96 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass, which already has contractors lined up and ready to go.

Work will officially begin in January. 

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Discount supermarkets

Despite objections from local residents, a third Lidl was approved for the Lincoln on the site of the former Ocean Chinese Restaurant in North Hykeham in January.

The Lidl at the Carlton Centre is set to move across the road to the former bakery and hand car wash site on Deacon Road as Lincolnshire Co-op, who owns the site, look to redevelop the shopping precinct bringing in new retailers and jobs.

The current Lidl site will be converted into three separate units.

Netto also had a fleeting visit to Lincoln, opening in the former Blockbuster on Lindis Retail Park off Tritton Road, only to close nine months later.

Food Warehouse by Iceland is lined up to move into the former Netto store.

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The Lincoln Mosque

Despite plans for Lincoln’s first purpose-built mosque to be completed in October or November this year, work was halted on the £1.5 million development.

Construction work ceased temporarily in September after the Islamic Association of Lincoln terminated their contract with previous builders, following legal advice.

Building work resumed in November with Lincoln firm Active8 Building Limited taking the lead on the ongoing construction.

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Business park expansion

The £6.8 million Boole Technology Centre on the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park started back in February and is now complete awaiting tenants to start moving in at the end of February 2017.

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A new place for education

The University of Lincoln revealed its £20 million masterplan for the redevelopment of the Riseholme campus in March and released a virtual tour of the site in April.

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 lead 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 were also revealed for the new £12.5 million University of Lincoln Sarah Swift building on the site of the city’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.

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One the Brayford

Developers Jackson & Jackson continue to thrive as plans for three new restaurants, luxury apartments and office space on Brayford Wharf were unanimously approved in March.

Work started on the development of the site in August with completion anticipated for Easter 2017.

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New to Lincoln

2016 has seen a host of new businesses open in and around the city including Wildwood, which opened in the former Mall on Lincoln High Street.

Lincoln’s new all-you-can-eat Brazilian restaurant Tiago opened in the former late night bar Brewhaus in October.

French food lovers are now able to get a table at Côte Brasserie, which opened in February.

A new Amazonian tribe-inspired, specialist coffee shop Makushi Coffee Limited opened on Steep Hill in August.

A new chippy also opened on the High Street in October after a £100,000 investment.