Freshney Place development planning application approved

The planning application for a new market hall, a cinema and other leisure facilities at the Western end of Freshney Place has been approved in today’s Planning Committee.

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “This is good news, and we can now press on with our major plans to improve the town centre, to make them more attractive for people to live and work in.

“We have been working in the background with professional advisers to look at the stores within both Freshney Place and the market that are likely to be affected, and have been having discussions with them individually about potential relocation within the centre while the works are ongoing.

“We are also looking at how we can use any empty space within Freshney Place in different ways – potentially bringing more of a community focus to the centre to help balance out the changes to retail habits.”

As previously reported, the leisure development will house a new cinema, with local and regional operator Parkway Entertainment Group coming in as an anchor tenant and pledging to provide a great venue to complement its offer in Cleethorpes.

The plans also feature a remodelled entrance to the centre, which will be lined with units for leisure and eateries, and an entrance to a new and transformed Market Hall.

Work to deliver the scheme is likely to begin in the summer, initially stripping out vacant units before demolishing the former BHS building in early 2024 to make way for the new market hall.

The market will continue to operate from its current base until the new market has been built.