Investment approved to accommodate hundreds of staff in town centre
Action being taken by North East Lincolnshire Council this year will see most of its staff, and that of its partners, brought together to work in Grimsby town centre.
When a complete refurbishment of Doughty Road Depot is complete, in late summer this year, 300 council and partner staff will work from the site.
The depot is close to the town centre and neighbours the Town Hall, the Municipal Offices and New Oxford House.
Together those buildings will then house over 1,000 employees of not only the authority, but staff of partners in both project delivery and health.
An update report on the Doughty Road Depot project has been considered by the council’s Cabinet and a recommendation approved for further investment to complete the scheme.
Council leader, Councillor Philip Jackson, said: “We have been clear about this authority’s efforts to support our town centre – our purchase of Freshney Place, and then the House of Fraser building is evidence of this.
“However, we have also considered how we need to make every effort possible to encourage and increase footfall to both Freshney Place and the surrounding town centre.
“Our plan to relocate staff, where possible, into the town centre is a way of doing just that.”
The Doughty Road depot project will involve an amalgamation of services from the current site and the Gilbey Road Depot.
It will accommodate all teams currently housed at these sites, as well as the council’s environmental fleet, refuse vehicles, education buses and other vehicles.
The new development will free up the Gilbey Road site for sale for industrial development, with money going back into council funds.
Cabinet approved a further £1.3m worth of investment to ensure the Doughty Road site is completed to the required standard.
The original Cabinet report for the project was approved in February 2020 with a budget of £6.8m. However, the council says “unforeseen works, inflation and the rising cost of materials” has seen that earlier sum rise.
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “I’m pleased to see this approved by Cabinet.
“We feel strongly that this is a necessary development for the borough and one that will provide countless benefits to the teams working there and Grimsby as a whole.”
