Two key town centre regeneration projects take step forward

North-East Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet Cabinet has agreed the draft designs for two key schemes in Cleethorpes to progress to the next detailed design stage.

Plans for Cleethorpes Market Place will to Alexandra Road which has been the catalyst for heritage led regeneration in Cleethorpes through the Townscape Heritage Project.

The designs have been created following on from the lead of the Masterplan, developed by Hemingway Design in 2022. They now take into account challenges around parking and highways issues as well as considering the needs of local businesses and responses to additional detailed consultation with the public earlier this year.

The designs for central portion of Market Place have allowed for a space that is free of traffic and vehicles for parts of the day to allow a more open space that can support markets and events, or allow local businesses to have external dining. The ultimate aim is to create a space that people want to spend more time in.

Responding to business concerns about parking provision for deliveries and customers, councillors stressed that they understand the concerns, and committed to keep talking with them to get the best solution to make sure businesses thrive and take advantage of the additional footfall expected as a result of the project.

Whilst most of the existing parking spaces are due to be moved from the centre of Market Place to make way for a pedestrianised area, lay-bys and drop off zones will still feature in the plans within Market Place to make sure businesses have access for deliveries.

Additionally, changes are being progressed to convert High Street Car Park into a short stay only car park. Another, previously unused space in Cleethorpes, the land behind the Old Vic pub, is also proposed to be converted into a public car park of around 40 spaces.

“We are having ongoing discussions with businesses,” said Council leader, councillor Philip Jackson. “We know that there are concerns, but we’ve also seen in other areas across the country what these sort of projects do to help local economies, and what the possibilities are.

“Additionally, during the construction period, we have a duty to make sure that access to businesses is maintained – this will be part of the tender process, and we commit to continuing the discussions with businesses as part of this.

“We are looking already at plans to activate the space created with markets or events, and pedestrianising the central portion of the Market Place is key to this. Along with allowing businesses, particularly food and beverage businesses, to spill out into this space with outside dining in the nicer weather, we can see how this space actually becomes somewhere people want to go and spend time in rather than just pass through.”

Meanwhile, draft plans have also been approved for the redevelopment of Pier Gardens.

The design proposes a “zoning” system to provide this mix of uses, including:

– arrival space at Sea Road/Alexandra Road junction;
– events zone to support a mixture of activities/events that could take place;
– play/recreation zone which would consist of a larger central space and provide a mixture of activities for children
– reflection zone at the Sea View Street end of the gardens supporting the existing armed forces memorials that are situated there.

The projects will now progress to the detailed design stage (RIBA4) to finalise things like materials to be used, and specifications of equipment, so that the projects can be costed up in full and the work tendered out for construction. Other special surveys and assessments, like updated environmental impact assessments, will also be completed during.

Councillor Jackson added: “Along with the third project, the Sea Road building, the work in the resort is going to be intense. We know there will be disruption across the resort, and we’re working in the background to find ways of weaving elements of these projects together where we can to minimise the disruption overall.

“However, these are great projects, and ones that will make a huge change to Cleethorpes overall, and the ways that people use the spaces.”

The work is being funded by an £18.4m grant from the Government.