Streets in Northern Lincolnshire to be 'brightened up'
It's as part of plans to make the area 'greener'
Last updated 13th Jan 2025
Plans are underway to make streets in Northern Lincolnshire 'greener' and 'more vibrant'.
North East Lincolnshire Council was awarded £500,000 Government Levelling Up Fund cash last May to to bring new life and greenery into the town centre. The focus will be on Victoria Street.
Hanging baskets have already been installed on lamp posts in recent weeks. But much more is planned, including positive message displays, living walls, festoon lights to improve the street’s visibility at night, and possibly leisure facility improvements.
“The initial phase of this project has been completed with the planters and hanging baskets brightening up Victoria Street for all visitors,” said a North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson. The council will collaborate with Grimsby in Bloom to continue to change the plants throughout the seasons “to ensure the street is as vibrant and welcoming as possible”.
“Included in this phase is our work with Littlecoates Primary School who are currently designing signs with positive messages to be displayed at the main entrances to the street. The final part of this phase will involve installing a number of living walls to brighten up the street and provide more biodiversity.”
“Phase two, currently being finalised, will involve creating more flower beds along the street, looking at the possibility of expanding leisure facilities and installing festoon lighting to improve visibility during the evenings. The final phase will be concerned with making the area environmentally sustainable to ensure that the work carried out is there for years to come.”
The plant life and greenery focus is a requirement to be able to use the Government cash, and the first phase had an original completion time of by the end of March. A pocket park at West St Mary’s Gate is also proposed as part of the works.
£123,000 is allocated to be spent on the festoon lighting. Studiotech was awarded the contract in late November. ‘String’ type lighting along the pedestrianised areas around Victoria Street and Old Market Place is planned. This would have provision to extend into the new public space created by the Freshney Place leisure scheme redevelopment, and would provide all-year round lighting, with colour change options.
The lighting plans are a response to public feedback that it would have the biggest positive impact on the Victoria Street’s street scene. The Grimsby town centre developments come at the same time as neighbouring North Lincolnshire Council moves forward on how it will spend its £500,000 cash award from the same initiative. There are plans for a ‘green corridor’ in Scunthorpe High Street.
Meanwhile Grimsby isn't the only area to be getting 'greener'
North Lincolnshire Council was also awarded £500,000 Levelling Up Fund cash last May to brighten up the High Street. It hired last month AHR Building Consultancy to carry out a topographical survey to work out the lie of the land.
The plans include the creation of a green corridor in the High Street “to improve the environment and provide areas for social interaction”. New seating and planters will also be installed in Jubilee Way, the main shopping area of Scunthorpe.
“We are committed to transforming Scunthorpe High Street into a more visually appealing and vibrant space,” said council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds Ward). “The planned green corridor will replace some hard paving with greenery, including trees and plants, creating a welcoming environment that supports biodiversity and enhances the area for residents and visitors alike. The improvements will be on the High Street and Jubilee Way.”
“This project is set to begin in Spring 2025,” he said, adding the money awarded can only be spent on schemes like this. Town Ward’s two Labour councillors have welcomed the plans, though called for more investment in the area, not just the council HQ end of the town.
“We welcome the creation of a green corridor along Scunthorpe High Street to improve the environment,” said Cllr Mashook Ali. “The council’s parks & green spaces department has done some outstanding landscaping in North Lincolnshire and so we are confident that they will create imaginative and appropriate planting and seating for the High Street.
“This will improve the appearance of the area, create a better ambience and hopefully attract more visitors. However, much more needs to happen on the High Street to revitalise it.”