West Lindsey District Council had acquired the site of the former Lindsey Centre in Gainsborough’s Market Place for a four-screen cinema, two retail units, a restaurant, and additional parking.
The plans for the town are being realised thanks to the Council’s £18 million Levelling up Programme.
Council leader Owen Bierley, pictured, said work on the project would start very soon. He said: “This is huge step forward for our plans to build a ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ and ensure the town reaches its full potential. In doing so this will have an economic impact on the wider district as we attract more people to the area.
“It has been a long process, but our team has been working very hard behind the scenes to get where we are and now demolition of the site in preparation for the new build can start. I would like to thank everybody for your patience over the last year since the announcement of the project was made but we are now in the position to get the ball rolling and we are feeling very positive about it.”
The Council was awarded £10 million from Central Government towards its plans, as part of the ‘Levelling up’ Programme, announced last year. Planning permission for the development was granted in November 2020. Demolition of the former Lindsey Centre is expected to start later in the year, and take about twelve weeks.
West Lindsey District Council’s Director of Planning and Regeneration, Sally Grindrod Smith said: “Our Invest Gainsborough Initiative has been making huge strides to improve the town over the years and we have had many successes. However, we recognised that we needed to do more to support our town centre and our high streets in order to revitalise the local economy.
“The former Lindsey Centre is an ideal location for the cinema and commercial units as it has great connectivity across the town and will reinvigorate the market place. We want to ensure our Market Place is the centre piece of the town with spaces and activities for people to meet family and friends, shop at our twice weekly markets and dine out in the town centre.”
The Lindsey Centre was previously Oldrids Department Store and was owned by Lincolnshire Co-op.
