Freshney Place Redevelopment

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Go-ahead given to the Grimsby town leisure, food hall and market scheme

“Grimsby town centre is changing. And the feel around the town centre is changing too.”

These are the words of Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council. This is one of the largest investments in Grimsby town centre’s history, the Freshney Place leisure scheme and associated new food hall and complementary market.

Cllr Jackson continues:

“We’re on a hugely ambitious journey, with significant investment of public funds across our towns and borough.

“We’re investing in one of the largest schemes this council has ever invested in. We believe this is right for the town. 

“In the last seven years, disused and unkempt areas, such as Garth Lane, Riverhead and St James Square have changed the entrance gateways to the town, providing a more attractive area to spend time, with better lighting and CCTV to provide reassurance and security too.

“Partners such as Onside, who are building a Youth Zone on the Haven, and Keepmoat, who will be building housing for local people, are investing in the future of our town centre.

“With developments such as the Freshney Place leisure scheme and the transport hub on the horizon, Grimsby is set to take another leap forward. This is about creating a place people will be proud of, and investors and businesses want to be in. This is about the future of the borough. 

“Put this alongside the work we’re doing to bring more culture, events and festivals into the town centre, and creating safer streets, and you can see there’s been a wholesale change.”

As previously reported, the leisure scheme is to be constructed using the western end of Freshney Place, the area that was the Top Town Market Hall and some units on the Bullring, which will provide a new offering for the people and businesses in Grimsby town centre.

So far, within the proposed scheme, a pre-let agreement is in place with local operator, Parkway Cinema, to bring a new five screen cinema to complement its offering at Cleethorpes.

There is more confidence in the cinema sector, particularly amongst smaller operators who are able to provide a quality experience and to tailor their operations to fit local demographics and demands.

Richard Parkes, owner of Parkway Cinema, said: “We’ve long discussed options for bringing a cinema to Grimsby, and reinventing Freshney Place is precisely the right approach. Town centres are not just about shopping – that doesn’t work anymore. We need to provide more reasons to visit and offer more things to do at more times during the day, and that’s just what we’ve signed up for – to bring that to Grimsby.

“We’ll be a living, breathing presence right in the heart of the town, with a new cinema open to and accessible to everyone alongside a new market hall and food outlets. It’s just part of something that will improve the whole town centre for a new generation, alongside the youth zone and other areas of the town like St James Square and the Riverhead. There’s a lot going on, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”

The development also includes plans for a new, vibrant food hall together with an attached complementary market. This is sited on the area of the former BHS building. According to a report from GlobalData, the leisure industry, like many is always evolving. Although there has been a growth in online shopping, around 75% of all sales are still in person on the high street.

Four additional new leisure, food and beverage, or retail opportunities, including a larger unit to-let are also in the scheme footprint, alongside four refurbished units within Freshney Place, with the return of Starbucks already agreed, and discussions underway with a leading food outlet.

Work has started, with completion in 2027.