Chamber welcomes £18.4-million Levelling Up funds awarded to Cleethorpes for key town centre projects
Resort to benefit from more than £18-million Levelling Up funding.
THE Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the £18.4-million award of Levelling Up funding for Cleethorpes which will see major upgrades and redevelopment in key areas of the resort.
David Hooper, the External Affairs Director for the Chamber, said: "This is fantastic news for Cleethorpes, plans for the improvements are already in place, so this will quickly make the town a better place to live, work and visit. I can't wait to see the Market Square and other schemes come to fruition."
In what North East Lincolnshire Council described as a major step forward in securing more than £18.4-million of Levelling Up grant monies for the resort, the delighted council leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said work would now begin at pace to kickstart this section of the Cleethorpes masterplan, which was spearheaded by Wayne Hemingway MBE of HemingwayDesign and extremely well received locally.
“This is absolutely brilliant news for the resort, which is fast becoming the jewel in the crown along the east coast of our country and is attracting growing numbers of people who want to not only visit here, but live here too. Over the last few years, we have seen the start of the Cleethorpes transformation, with the Coastal Communities Fund work and that around the heritage properties on Alexandra Road. This successful LUF bids means that transformation can continue.”
The Cleethorpes bid incorporated schemes identified in the Cleethorpes’ Masterplan as important strategic development locations, and deliverable within the timescales.
The area of focus for the bid was Market Place, Sea Road and Pier Gardens, which were three initial projects identified in the “Think Cleethorpes” Masterplan, developed alongside the local community to deliver the projects that they wanted to see, and adopted last year.
The key vision is to reintroduce the historic Market Square, creating a safe and flexible space that can accommodate markets, festivals and associated retail events, which will encourage outdoor dining, and provide a healthier, more pleasant environment.
The successful funding bid will also support the redevelopment of the Sea Road site which received planning permission for a new building and is currently being marketed.
There is an opportunity to change Pier Gardens, retaining the Victorian heritage and feel, but making it more attractive. In the masterplan consultation, people wanted to see more made of the gardens, with additional seating, planting to increase biodiversity, and improved areas for children’s play, events and performances, and spaces for reflection and contemplation.
Cllr Jackson continued: “Over the last few years, we’ve secured in excess of £70-million into North East Lincolnshire, underpinned by an ambitious vision for the growth and regeneration. We’re working hard to make sure that the money spent in this borough is to the benefit of everyone living and working here.
“The changes we continue to spearhead in the resort, and which we can now continue with the support of the LUF monies, are also vital when it comes to reflecting the aspirations of our residents and visitors, for our young people to enjoy positive futures, and in our ability to attract new and retain good businesses in an attractive coastal town.”
