Cinema operator Parkway Entertainment has signed the lease to deliver its new five-screen venue in Grimsby town centre, with the construction contractor selected.
The two significant developments for the Freshney Place scheme follow the £20 million award from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, revealed in this week’s Spring Budget.
Morgan Sindall has been selected from a national framework of companies, and will work alongside North East Lincolnshire Council to finalise build plans over the coming months. Parkway, with its flagship cinema and regional operating base in neighbouring Cleethorpes, was revealed as the brand behind it in July last year, with national chain Cineworld having lost interest since its initial involvement.
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Richard Parkes, director of Parkway Entertainment, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to get this over the line, and look forward to working on creating something special for the people of Grimsby.”
Acknowledging that while internet shopping had seen a change in buying habits and how town centre is used, he said it was still evident that people wanted to get together socially, and cinemas were benefiting from that.
“The new Grimsby cinema will be very different to the one we have in Cleethorpes,” he said. “There is more than one type and style of restaurant, more than just one type of pub - cinemas are the same. A town centre cinema will have a different feel and style to a big seafront cinema, even if they're offering the same sorts of films, it’ll be a different experience.
“We’re really pleased to be able to get this over the line, and look forward to working on creating something special for the people of Grimsby.”
The scheme will see a new market hall and further leisure opportunities in the remodelled western end of the shopping centre, following the approval of the planning application last month.
London-headquartered and stock exchange-listed Morgan Sindall is set to start with the demolition of the existing frontage of the former BHS unit, and Flottergate Mall at Freshney Place, from this summer, creating the new market hall and then the leisure scheme.
Ben Hall, Morgan Sindall’s area director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with the council on the Freshney Place refurbishment. We believe this project will be a real game-changer for Grimsby and will breathe new life into the shopping centre.
“We are also looking forward to bringing employment opportunities to local people, and in working with local schools and colleges to introduce young people to the construction industry.”
Freshney Place was bought out of liquidation by North East Lincolnshire Council last year.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader, said: “This is a time of real rejuvenation for the town centre, with the schemes from the Town Centre Masterplan being delivered – not just Freshney Place and the associated market and leisure development, but the other schemes like Riverhead, alongside the creative and heritage elements.
“We’ve seen from Freshney Place that the footfall is increasing, with shoppers coming to purchase rather than browse, and most of the units in the centre are now occupied.
“The work that we are doing will hopefully encourage people to use the town centre more, to make it a thriving heart of our borough and reverse the long-term decline of years gone by.”
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