July 24, 2017 11.50 am This story is over 80 months old

Thousands of new homes and jobs predicted as part of multi-million pound Grimsby regeneration plans

North East Lincolnshire Council has revealed multi-million plans for Greater Grimsby that could bring 7,700 new homes and 5,400 new jobs to the area. A meeting will be held by the council on Monday, July 31 to discuss plans and the next step of submitting a prospectus to central government. It is hope that the project…
Grimsby Docks. Photo: Chris

North East Lincolnshire Council has revealed multi-million plans for Greater Grimsby that could bring 7,700 new homes and 5,400 new jobs to the area.

A meeting will be held by the council on Monday, July 31 to discuss plans and the next step of submitting a prospectus to central government.

It is hope that the project over the next 10 years will:

  • Grow the local economy by than £216 million per year
  • Create up to 5,400 jobs across the Enterprise Zones and other key employment sites
  • See 7,700 new homes built
  • Increase North East Lincolnshire’s contribution to UK plc
  • Transform the ‘place offer’ through the development of a new higher education presence, waterfront housing, cultural and leisure facilities through the redevelopment of historic sites including the Silo at Victoria Mills and the Kasbah at the Port of Grimsby.

Much of the proposed redevelopment is focused on underused areas around the Alexandra Dock waterfront, from the town centre to the Port of Grimsby, and builds on the plans for a new cinema and restaurant development at Riverhead.

The detail of the physical works will be revealed at a later date but will include a mix of housing, education, business, sport and leisure premises.

Councillor Ray Oxby, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s a new ‘place based’ approach to the regeneration of towns.

“We have a Greater Grimsby board chaired by David Ross, one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, and its members include former Chancellor Lord Lamont, former Head of the Civil Service Lord Kerslake, representatives from major local employers Associated British Ports (ABP) and DONG Energy, and the area’s MPs Melanie Onn and Martin Vickers.

“What we propose submitting to central government isn’t just a bid for funding, it’s an invitation to join us in a locally-led partnership to redevelop the town and increase our contribution to the national economy.

“For too long as a town we’ve had our back to the waterfront. It’s time that we turn around and embrace it.”

Greater Grimsby Board chairman David Ross added: “Our ambition is to make real changes to the town long-term, so that children growing up here know they can achieve great things, and are inspired by the place they live in.”

Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn

Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn said: “It’s great to have a project that is proactively taking a vision of our town’s potential to the government.

“It’s vital that we capitalise on the Energy Estuary label, as well as generating investment into our town for residential, social and cultural renewal.

“I hope that government ministers will view this work positively and engage with constructive conversations with the local board to see this plan become a reality.”

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers added: “It’s one of the government’s key aims to regenerate areas that have become ‘left-behind’ and in my discussions with government ministers I’m encouraged that with the right set of proposals the Grimsby/Cleethorpes area could receive support that would achieve a major transformation of our towns.

“We have a Project Board with some extremely influential people; this together with ministerial support could deliver the change we all want to see. We’ve had too many false dawns; this time we might just pull it off.”