By Scunthorpe high street receives green light for fresh transformation
North Lincolnshire Council has announced that Scunthorpe high street will receive a fresh, new concept as part of their plans to revitalise the town centre.
Backed by Government funds, the multi-million-pound development will see a ‘radical’, high-quality transformation that will bring in new jobs and new businesses.
Planning permission has reportedly already been granted for a new enterprise and innovation hub to be built on the Scunthorpe high street.
The 27,000 sq ft development will house vast office space, workshops, business development areas and a communal courtyard.
According to the council, a 46-bed unit for young professional and medical students will also be built in the town centre.
Further developments for Scunthorpe high street and town centre include: creating an advanced manufacturing park, delivering gigabit broadband to hundreds of local businesses, delivering green energy schemes for schools and community buildings and creating new cultural experiences as well as a blue light facility and hundreds of new homes.
A licensed café and bar as well as further developments for an urban park in Church Square are also planned for the transformation.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council and Towns Fund Board Member, said: “This is an important milestone in the latest plans to create a new future for Scunthorpe’s town centre and evidence of levelling-up happening here.
“Now, with planning permission in place, residents will start to see progress on this ground-breaking development very soon – I am genuinely excited.
“Building the enterprise and innovation hub is a huge part of our vision to attract new businesses and new jobs.
“The heart of the vision is to create a vibrant place which attracts a wide range of people, from shoppers and families [to] young professionals.”
The Scunthorpe high street scheme is backed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
They received a £30 million investment through the Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund to get the project going.
These new plans for the Scunthorpe high street will hopefully help boost the local economy following the pandemic and combat the issue of more shoppers moving online to make their purchases.
Dr Faisel Baig, Chair of NHS North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and local GP, told the council: “We know economic hardship links to poor health and that’s why these developments are exciting as they will bring more employment to the area.
“In a digital age, giving people a reason to get out of the house and visit Scunthorpe town centre is really important.
“It means people are out in the fresh air, walking into town or through town and these alone have huge benefits on health and mental wellbeing.”
Holly Mumby-Croft, Scunthorpe MP and deputy chair of the Towns Fund Board, added: “This is a major step forward in delivering the money that Government has given us for Scunthorpe.
“It is more than £10m of direct investment which is being spent to create a new future which includes homes for medical students and to jobs for local people in the town centre.”
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)
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