Grimsby's Alexandra Dock set for transformation as new housing development moves step closer
The Alexandra Dock area of Grimsby, nestled between the new Onside Youth Zone and the Fishing Heritage Centre, is set for a major transformation in the coming years.
Funding worth around £7.8m has been secured, following the signing of a build lease with UK homebuilder, Keepmoat, earlier this month.
Grimsby's Town Centre Masterplan, backed by Homes England, identified this area as an ideal location for homes, given its proximity to water and the improvements already made in the vicinity.
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The 6.25-acre town centre site, bordered by Fisherman's Wharf and the River Freshney, is expected to eventually house a community of around 130 homes, complemented by commercial accommodation.
The site's frontage, bordering Alexandra Dock, was completed in 2021 and includes a new footbridge over the River. In recent years, work has been ongoing at the site to support future development, including ground investigation works and surveys.
Funding worth around £7.8m has been secured through the Government's Towns Fund to support the development, with additional brownfield funding provided as part of the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal.
The brownfield site has been under consultation with housing market developers since November of the previous year. The process involved developers expressing interest in the site, followed by rounds of discussions, culminating in a final bid to take over the build lease. This then allows them to submit a planning application for their proposed development.
The next stage for the site is for the developers to carry out a public consultation prior to submitting a planning application. This is currently expected in the autumn / winter of 2024/25.
Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, stated: "We want to create a place that connects the town and its community with its waterside, creating a fantastic urban living environment. North East Lincolnshire must develop as a place where people want to live and work. If that does not happen, we risk stagnating as a borough. We're committed to making sure that does not happen."
"There's a long way to go yet, and developments of this scale don't happen overnight. But we are working to improve the town centre as a whole and this is part of that vision. We want people who work in our borough to also live here as this will maximise the economic benefits to the area."
"Step-by-step, along with other initiatives in the town centre, we're changing how our town centre can be used safely, and enjoyed by everyone."
Ben Hindley, Regional Land and Partnership Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, added: "We're excited to be working in partnership with the Council to regenerate a large parcel of brownfield land and deliver new homes in Grimsby.
"At Keepmoat we pride ourselves on supporting local authorities to achieve their housing targets and we are honoured to be the housebuilder of choice for this project, selected to create much needed quality housing stock for generations to come.
"We are approaching the project in the Alexandra Dock area of Grimsby with healthy life principles in mind, to ensure the scheme is not only visually appealing, but has plenty of available green spaces for walking, cycling and spending time outside."
Paul Gascoine Assistant Director at Homes England says "As the government's housing and regeneration agency we want to support partners, in the public and private sector, to unlock strategic housing sites where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges.
"The Alexandra Dock is a prime example of this. The agency has worked closely with North East Lincolnshire Council to support the development of the master plan over the last two years, and it's great to see it move forward."