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| Time for a facelift - ambitious scheme could breathe new life into Top Town |
THE potential operator of a proposed cinema for Grimsby Top Town could be announced as soon as next week.
Provisional agreement has been agreed with an interested party whose identity could be revealed at a special meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet on October 20.
Says a report: "Heads of Terms have been provisionally agreed with a cinema operator."
The cinema would be a main attraction in the proposed £27-million redevelopment at the market hall end of the town centre, but it is still too early any to count any chickens.
A similar project at Riverhead came a cropper - not least because of concerns that infrastructure works might unearth unexploded wartime bombs from enemy aircraft.
The report on the overall redevelopment of Top Town - including construction a new market hall - seeks to strike a reassuring note that it will go ahead, especially as £17.8-million of the cost will come out of Whitehall coffers.
The owners of Freshney Place have so far kept a relatively low profile, but they are being kept in the information loop as are other land and business owners in this vicinity which includes Flottergate.
A Colchester-based consultancy, Quarterbridge, which has special expertise with market revitalisation schemes, has also been engaged.
However, the report to cabinet has identified risks - for instance, the increase in construction costs (notably materials) due to global supply chain constraints.
The document adds: "There is a further risk around demand from the wider market given financial pressures and the Covid pandemic.
"This is mitigated to an extent in that the council-owned market will be occupying a significant proportion of the new development."
* Below: Is this the vibrant future for Top Town? These splendid images are from the website of Quarterbridge - the firm helping NELC to achieve its vision.
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