Work begins on Freshney Place leisure scheme in Grimsby
It's one of the biggest single investments in Grimsby town centre’s history
Last updated 14th Feb 2025
Work has started on site on the Freshney Place leisure scheme, one of the biggest single investments in Grimsby town centre’s history.
After initial works within Top Town Market last week as soon as it closed, the focus now is to complete an internal strip out of the building. This includes mechanical and electrical fittings as well as the removal of asbestos.
The demolition of the market building will follow this summer. The external demolition of the former BHS building will start in early March. The hoardings are up to make sure that there’s a safe working environment for all those on site.
Hoardings will be put up in Victoria Street, from Devonshire House to the former House of Fraser building, signalling the start of the main works. Flottergate Mall entrance to Freshney Place has also now been closed off. The market roof car park will close from Monday, February 17.
The main entrances to Freshney Place at Riverhead Square and Brewery Street remain open as normal. “We promised to get the main work started early in 2025, and that’s what’s happening,” said North East Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson (Conservative – Waltham Ward). “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.
“Partners such as Onside, who are building a Youth Zone on the Haven, and Keepmoat, who will be building a new housing development on Garth Lane, are also investing in the future of our town centre,” he added. “Our Freshney Place regeneration scheme is, in my firm belief, the most important regeneration project we have seen in North East Lincolnshire. It is key to the future of our town centre – underpinning the other regeneration taking place as well as securing the future of Freshney Place and the 1,700 local jobs it supports.”
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. The leisure scheme project also includes plans for a food hall, and a new market – which will be situated at the former BHS site.
National construction company, GMI Construction Group, will lead the build of the leisure scheme, having worked on similar projects in other towns and cities across the UK. It commercial director Ed Weston said: “We are proud to be part of this transformative project that will breathe new life into the town centre. Our expertise in delivering both urban regeneration projects and high-quality mixed-use developments will ensure that Freshney Place becomes a vibrant destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”
Director of Parkway Cinemas, Richard Parkes, said: “We’ve been working towards this for a long time, and it’s brilliant to see it happening in the real world, not just on paper. It really is a transformative moment for the town centre, and the wider area too. There are very young kids now who are going to grow up enjoying the best town centre for miles around, and the cinema will be just a small part of that.
“Anybody can stay at home and watch a film on TV, cook their own chicken or make their own coffee but it’s a totally different experience to go out and do it with friends and family for real, and our new reinvented town centre is going to be worth waiting for, and worth going out for too.”
Freshney Place’s centre director Amanda Austin called it “a major milestone” for the shopping centre. “Freshney Place has served the community for nearly 50 years, and as work gets underway we can be confident it will remain a popular destination for the people of Grimsby into the future. We look forward to sharing progress as the works continue, and want to reassure our customers that it will be business as usual throughout the development phase.”
“This is a massive confidence booster for Grimsby and generates a significant positive impact on the existing tenants of the shopping centre and new ones we are engaged with,” said Paul Sargent, founder of Queensbury, which manages the shopping centre day-to-day on the council’s behalf. “There will be more good news to follow shortly,” he added, likely referring to the future opening of the first phase of the NHS community diagnostic centre (CDC).