Yahoo News Major updates issued on huge Cleethorpes and Grimsby regeneration projects
Two of Cleethorpes' three Levelling Up Fund-supported regeneration projects have 2026 completion dates.
More than £1.1m government cash has already been spent on all three schemes combined.
Updates on major council projects have been published by the council as part of a finance report. This includes latest updates on the Sea Road building, Pier Gardens rejuvenation and Market Place revitalisation schemes, all supported by £18.4m Levelling Up Fund cash.
Pier Gardens and Market Place are down for spring 2026 completion dates, the report confirms. The Sea Road building, earlier lined up to be fitted out for tenants next summer, is now "on target to be completed Autumn/Winter 2025".
Next year will be the year of simultaneous major construction projects in Cleethorpes and Grimsby town centres. Freshney Place would be transformed just as Cleethorpes' Pier Gardens and Market Place are.
Cleethorpes Levelling Up Fund projects
A main contractor should be appointed in February for the £4.6m Market Place project. It aims to make it more pedestrian friendly. Some businesses in the area have expressed significant concern about the initially proposed road layout and potential removal of much of Market Place's car parking.
The council has authorised plans to create a new public car park behind The Old Vic pub, and to make Cleethorpes High Street Car Park short-term only. These are subject to legally required consultation, open now until November 22, here.
Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson has said: "We are still in the final design stages for the Market Place project, testing out traffic possibilities, and have been talking with local businesses regularly to get their views and make amendments to the scheme where we can.
"Specifically on parking, the current version of the design for Market Place still has around 30 layby spaces within it, and we are looking to create a new car park less than five minutes’ walk away for additional parking behind the Old Vic pub. We know that there are mixed views about this project from the businesses which is why we’ve been meeting with them regularly to test out ideas and seek feedback, but we believe that this project will benefit not only businesses, but also our residents and visitors in the long term."
So far, just under £280,000 has been spent on the Market Place scheme. The £8.6m Pier Gardens scheme has January 2025 to March 2026 as the expected mobilisation and construction period. So far, £407,000 has been spent on it.
The £7.2m Sea Road building site had preparatory utility works done earlier this autumn. Construction is due imminently. Just over £420,000 has been spent.
Alexandra Dock - first homes by spring 2026
A planning application for new housing on brownfield land at Alexandra Dock's Garth Lane in Grimsby is expected this month. Work on site would begin in April or May.
The first homes would be ready by spring 2026 and it completed in autumn 2027. £7.8m Towns Fund cash is committed to it. Survey work began on November 4. Around 130 homes are expected to be built.
The finance report notes two current challenges, though. It notes "impact of market downturn on the project", creating a risk for the developer and a reputational issue for the council". The other issue is the timeline and funding.
Councils frequently get government cash with deadlines to spend it by. It is partly why A180 works have begun while Corporation Bridge remains shut. The £7.8m Towns Fund cash is required to be spent by March 2026. A delay to the project timeline risks this.
Abbey Walk Car Park - new car park construction date
The council's cabinet recently agreed to the demolition of Abbey Walk Car Park in Grimsby, closed since May due to structural problems.
Its replacement with a ground level-only car park is subject to a wider review of town centre car parking. The finance report, however, estimates it could be built in summer to winter 2025.
Riverhead Square's multi-million transformation is almost complete. Resin was added in October to keep stones in the planters. Fencing briefly returned. Northern Powergrid connection works are due in early 2025, with final works completed then.
Finally, there is reference to the plans for a 150-place special educational needs school. The latest timeline is for it to open for the 2027/28 academic year.
The free school is not yet contracted with the Department for Education, who would fund it.
