LET'S DO IT! COUNCIL CABINET BACKS REVISED PUSH TO REVAMP GRIMSBY TOWN CENTRE

                                                   

Whatever happens, Devonshire House looks likely to  be spared the wrecking ball

IT'S all-systems-go on the proposed revamp of Grimsby town centre at the west end of Victoria Street.

At this evening's meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet, members unanimously voted to proceed with the project.

Because it will attract a Whitehall grant lower than  hoped for  - £17.3-million instead of  £25-million  - the scheme will be less ambitious than the one originally devised.

But it may actually prove to end up being more compact and more attractive.

In his presentation to the meeting, assistant director of regeneration Damien Jaines-White indicated that some properties might  be earmarked for demolition - but not the multi-storey Devonshire House office block.

"We are willing to engage with its owners,"he said.

Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson praised Mr Jaines-White and his team for their "hard work behind the scenes".

He described the project as an "exciting opportunity" - a sentiment shared by colleagues including Cllr Stan Shreeve, Cllr Callum Procter and Cllr Stewart Swinburne.

It is not known if the community will get to see the new scheme, which is still being worked up, prior to its submission to Whitehall by the deadline of February 26.

If it gets the nod from the powers-that-be, the project will still have to go through the customary council  planning process.