Big-name retailer poised to sign up for ground-floor of former House of Fraser store in Freshney Place

       

A new future beckons for the former House of Fraser store which closed six years ago

A NATIONALLY-known retailer is poised to take out a lease on most of the ground floor of the former  House of Fraser store in Grimsby's Freshney Place.

At next Wednesday's cabinet meeting, members will be recommended to approve the letting of the NELC-owned building  subject to terms being finalised.

This may involve the council, which acquired the property for £350,000 in 2023, making a hefty "contribution" towards refurbishment of the property.

This could be as much as  £3.8-million - a sum thought to have been diverted from the  Grimsby Library refurbishment scheme which has controversially been scrapped.

And it is likely to be another two years before the ground floor of the former department store reopens for business in its new guise.

Details of the proposed deal - including the identity of the "nationally recognised" retailer - are mostly  being kept under wraps on grounds of confidentiality, but some information is revealed in a report to councillors.

This states:  "Principal negotiations have now been concluded with a well-known retail tenant for the majority of the ground floor of the former HoF. 

"This includes for the council to undertake works to the property in advance of  July 15, 2027 in readiness for handover to the tenant.  

"The ground floor, which has frontages both to the shopping mall and to Victoria Street, is the key aspect of the building.

"The proposed letting will enhance a hitherto unoccupied building,  contribute to the wider regeneration of the town centre, complement ongoing projects and improve investor confidence."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Freshney Place, NELC says principal negotiations have now been concluded for two further "well-known" leisure-based anchor tenants.

It says these will complement the previously signed deals with Parkway Cinemas and Starbucks,

Supermarket chain Lidl UK sees a bright future for Pleasure Island site if proposed revamp goes ahead

 

The former theme park for which Lidl UK has high hopes if redevelopment proceeds

DISCOUNT retailer Lidl UK has again banged the drum for its proposed store on part of the site of the former Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes.

Lidl is believed to be heading the three-party consortium  which is seeking to redevelop the long-abandoned former theme park.

In its latest submission to North East Lincolnshire Council planners, it states (through Lichfields, its agents): "The proposed new Lidl and other retail units would have a significant positive impact upon local consumer choice. 

"Currently, the only foodstore of any significant size in Cleethorpes is Tesco Extra superstore at Hewitts Circus.

"Whilst there are some clothing and footwear operators at Meridian Point, the majority of non-food provision in Cleethorpes Town Centre comprises smaller scale, independent stores. 

"The proposed new uses on the Pleasure Island site would therefore enhance the accessibility and availability of food and non-food retailing both to  local residents and to tourists/other visitors to the area - including those staying at the proposed holiday lodges and those at nearby Thorpe Park.

"In doing so, they would therefore help to ‘claw back’ expenditure which is currently leaking out of Cleethorpes to  stores in Grimsby. 

"Such stores include Lidl and Aldi foodstores at Ladysmith Road and Cleethorpes Road, and superstores operated by Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. 

"In doing so, the proposals would help to relieve the pressure on existing discount foodstores in Grimsby, all of which are performing strongly, at levels significantly above their respective company averages. "

"The proposals would also claw-back spending from stores at Alexandra Dock, Victoria and High Point Retail Parks in Grimsby, and, to a lesser extent, those in Grimsby Town Centre itself."

Would a Lidl at Pleasure Island weaken trade at Cleethorpes Town Centre food outlets such as  the  Co-op and Sainsbury’s on St Peter's Avenue as well as those within local centres  such as those (including Spar stores) at Humberston, New Waltham, Trinity Road, Middlethorpe Road, Sandringham Road and Hardy’s Road?

Lidl doubts this, maintaining that these  shops are focused upon meeting day-to-day top-up and more specialist shopping needs, and would not face direct competition with those at the proposed new retail uses at Pleasure Island.   

It further states that the two  new hotels being proposed at Pleasure Island would enhance the range and choice of visitor accommodation in the Cleethorpes area, which, it states, "is currently focused upon smaller, independent hotels and caravan and chalet-style accommodation on holiday parks". 

Lidl continues: "In doing so, the development - including the proposed conference centre - would help to consolidate and enhance the town’s status 

"The scheme would have a positive impact in terms of enhancing local consumer choice, and the range and choice of retail, leisure and hotel provision accessible to residents of, and tourists/other visitors to, Cleethorpes."

The other three named parties in the consortium are  Liverpool-based YPG FAB 2 Ltd and locally-based Seaside Getaways Ltd and Church Lane Humberston Ltd, but  Lidl seems to be the one calling most of the shots.

It is thought NELC planners could determine the long  drawn-out application  before the end of this year. 

* German-owned Lidl Lidl has been developing stores throughout the UK since 1994 and currently operates almost 1,000 stores nationwide. It says it is able to offer "high-quality products at low prices as a result of cross-European bulk buying power, and an efficient approach to store format, staffing levels and management". A typical Lidl store will offer circa 3,000 product lines and, although this may increase slightly in future (up to about 4,000), this is still significantly lower than the typical range of 20,000-plus lines in a superstore operated by one of the big four convenience retailers. Subject to seasonal variation, Lidl stores dedicate around 20 per cent of retail floorspace to the sale of non-food items. A typical  Lidl store provides up to 40 (full time equivalent) jobs.

                                                     

MP renews her criticism of vape shops and 'fake' barbers - but does she risk inciting tensions?

                                      

Melanie Onn - 'Commons attack on 'fake' barbers

GRIMSBY & Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn (Lab) has again spoken out against the brightly-coloured pop-up shops that have become  a feature in the constituency - and in many other towns and cities in the UK.

At yesterday's  Prime Ministers' Questions in the 'Commons, she demanded: "Tax evasion, money laundering,  illicit goods and illegal working all undermine our high  streets, including Freeman Street. 

"They undermine local business confidence and challenge community cohesion. 

"That is the reality  around the country because of the explosion of vape  shops, fake barbers, Harry Potter shops and American  candy stores. 

"Will the Prime Minister commit to  working with his Cabinet to bring in a national strategy  to tackle the scourges of the high street and restore  high street confidence?"

Sir Keir Starmer responded: "I thank the hon. Lady for raising  this issue. 

"I know it is of concern to her and to many  people across the House. 

"The system we have is broken;  it does not serve anyone well. 

"We have to reform it, and I hope  that we can get the greatest support possible for the reform that I think everybody here knows has to happen."

The Grimsby News says: An alternative perspective from the one adopted by Ms Onn and the Prime Minister is that these brightly-coloured premises brighten up shopping areas and are far preferable to stores that shuttered or permanently closed. And, contrary to what she suggests, many of these businesses, especially barbers, are legitimate and provide a valuable service. By her careless generalisation, the MP has not only maligned many good people but she has made them vulnerable to abuse (and maybe worse) from other members of the community.  

Mental health charity chooses St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, for its latest shop opening

 

The new Cleethorpes shop - one of more than 160 branches in England and Wales

GOOD fortune to the mental health charity, Mind, which last month opened its latest shop on St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes. 

Mind now has more than 160 shops in England and Wales including one in Louth.

It says it welcomes donations of :

* Clothes

* Accessories

* Books

* Records

* DVDs

* CDs

* Homeware

* Linen

* Children's games and toys

It is also keen to encourage  shop volunteers and says: "There's no need for volunteering to be a big, time-consuming commitment - even an hour a week could make a huge difference."

"Mind charity shop volunteers are a dedicated bunch. 

"They help make sure that all of us with mental health problems have somewhere to turn. 

"Whether it's sorting and pricing clothes, making sales or getting creative on the shop floor, there's plenty you can do to help out."

It adds: "Charity shop volunteering at Mind is more than just giving back. 

"It's about meeting new people, building skills, making connections, and boosting your confidence."

 

Return of bumblebees to Grimsby town centre after many years' absence - now bring on the butterflies!

 

                                                     

The wildlife-friendly planting scheme at Grimsby's revamped Riverhead has brought back bumblebees to this patch of town  for what is thought to be the first time in many years. They particularly like feasting on the sea holly blooms (above). There is a good chance that other pollinating insects, including various butterfly species, will arrive later this summer.  

Councillor warns scrutiny panel meeting: Is this the 'creeping death' of Grimsby Central Library?

                                                       

Grimsby Central Library - so many unanswered questions

THE fate of Grimsby's Central Library could be determined by the end of next month.

By that time, NELC expects to have completed not just a comprehensive survey of the extent of asbestos in the building but also a full structural survey on its overall safety.

This sketchy information emerged during yesterday's  special North East Lincolnshire scrutiny panel meeting in Grimsby Town Hall.

But, as Cllr Paul Henderson (Ind, Yarborough) emphasised, vital questions remain unanswered about the building which closed until further notice on March 28 and has since been emptied of its precious stock of books, rare documents and furnishings.

Bemoaning the lack of urgency in carrying out repairs, he sought immediate  clarity from NELC's administration on costings and timelines.

Cllr Henderson queried whether there had even been a need to close the building at all.

"Who says it is unsafe?" he demanded. "If so, which part of it?

"Who made the closure decision? What are the credentials of the surveyors?

He continued: "The story does not stack up. Are we, as councillors, being steered down a pre-determined path by the administration?

"Are we witnessing, by increments, the creeping death of Grimsby Central Library and the 16 services it provides?"

Similar frustration was sounded by Malcolm Morland (Lab, Croft Baker) who described the library building as being of "national importance" and warned against "giving away our heritage".

A different perspective came from panel chairman Cllr Steve Holland (Ind, Freshney) who said he had heard it said that the whole of the building might be structurally unsafe.

He pinpointed a potential dilemma for the authority if any repair quote came in at £4-million.  

During the discussion, there were several references to a Levelling-up grant of £4.2-million to upgrade the library and re-open its upper floors for community or educational use, but almost all that money was diverted - by who knows whom? - to the proposed redevelopment of part of the town centre to incorporate leisure facilities such as a new cinema and a Nando's restaurant.

Cllr Morland, who described the leisure scheme as "over-promoted", declared a personal interest in the future of the library because he is a a member of Grimsby and District Civic Society which has been campaigning for the library service to be retained.

Perhaps surprisingly, Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) who has regularly used the central library as a place of work, decided not to declare a personal interest.

It was hoped that NELC's director of infrastructure, Carolina Borgstrom, might provide the meeting with important information on costs, timelines and the state of the library.

Much of what she said was inaudible to the public, but she made a general comment about the "complexity" of maintaining old  buildings, adding that decisions on the future Grimsby Library were the remit of councillors, not officers.

Part of the meeting was held behind closed doors, with public and Press excluded, on grounds of confidentiality.

*NELC agrees to 'temporary' pop-up library in Freshney Place shopping centre - see previous report. 

Green light for 'pop-up' library in Freshney Place - but how 'temporary' is 'temporary'?

                                     

Where will it be? Council has not divulged likely Freshney Place location of 'temporary' pop-up library

IT looks like a temporary 'pop-up' library will  open in Grimsby’s Freshney Place shopping arcade.

This was confirmed at a  special North East Lincolnshire Council scrutiny panel meeting held this afternoon.

But no details have been given of:

* The proposed date of its opening

* The location of the vacant retail  unit that has been selected

* The estimated costs of the initiative

Also undisclosed is the amount of rental income that is likely to be forfeited as a result of a lost retail space.

At the meeting, Cllr Matthew Patrick (Lab, Heneage) expressed dismay at what was was being proposed in the wake of  the indefinite closure of  Grimsby Central Library in March as a result of a perceived asbestos contamination issue.

He protested: "The administration has gone for the easy option.

"But the purpose of Freshney Place is to provide retail opportunities, not to be a storage dump for council services."

Similar exasperation was sounded  by Labour colleagues Cllr Sophia Farren (Sidney Sussex) and Cllr Malcolm Morland (Croft Baker), with Cllr Marian Boyd (Con, Park) also expressing disquiet.

Meanwhile,  Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) doubted  that the pop-up library would be "fit for purpose" given its limited book stock, with only two public computers and lack of space for other facilities such as small-scale community gatherings.

The meeting was attended by no fewer than 28 members of the public fearful that the borough's library service - specifically  the premises in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Waltham - are at serious risk of being downgraded as NELC seeks way of cutting costs.

Two were wearing red tee-shirts carrying the message: "We shall not be moved."

The authority's portfolio holder  with responsibility for libraries, Cllr Hayden Dawkins (Con, Humberston & New Waltham), sought to reassure fellow-councillors and the public with what he called a "categorical assurance" that the Freshney Place move was "temporary only".

"I cannot stress that enough,"he insisted.

But Cllr Patrick was unconvinced. "Temporary is a dangerous word,"he declared.