July 26, 2018 4.50 pm This story is over 68 months old

“Superficial” £1.66m St Peter’s Hill refurb approved

“It’s the wrong spending at the wrong time”
The planned new entrance to SKDC.

£1.66 million was approved by South Kesteven councillors for works on St Peter’s Hill redevelopment in Grantham despite the move being described as “superficial spending”.

The designs lay out in detail how the council proposes to create a new public route between its offices, the new cinema complex currently being built, and a nearby retail area.

Members of South Kesteven District Council’s Full Council voted through the plans which will see the money taken from the authority’s reserves after an amendment to their budget plan.

The works include the part demolition of some of the council’s offices which will be replaced by a glass bridge from the Civic building to the council offices which will open up a courtyard currently used as a staff entrance.

Artist’s impression of the multiplex cinema in Grantham which the council’s plans will link to.

The council says the bridge will ‘provide a link between the two buildings whilst retaining the open, transparent feeling of the new route’.

The council’s plans will also see the main entrance to the authority’s buildings moved to the courtyard to create a new lobby including a ‘step’ and platform lift’.

Planters and benches will also be installed, along with street lighting, planters and concrete structures as well as street and feature lighting.

The cost are as follows:

  • £246,350 preliminary costs
  • £95,100 demolition
  • £846,315 remodelling of the courtyard and public realm works
  • £50,000 new entrance cost
  • £187,671 associated costs, including contractor risk and inflation
  • £169,929 fees

South Kesteven District Council leader Matthew Lee

Leader of the council, Councillor Matthew Lee, said that the improvements would help employment in the town.

“It will be part of the success of this town,” he said.

“The design is not to everyone’s taste but it is what it is and I am sure that it will attract people to the town.”

Deputy leader of the council, Councillor Kelham Cooke, said that the improvements were needed for the redevelopment and would help the cinema “be a success”.

But, Councillor Ian Selby, member for Grantham Harrowby, said that it was the wrong time to spend the money.

“This is superficial spending,” he said.

“It is the wrong spending at the wrong time, we do not know what is around the corner.”