UK-based GMI Construction Group has commenced the construction of a regeneration project in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England.
The project aims to transform the Freshney Place shopping area into a multifunctional hub for leisure, retail, and food.
This initiative is part of a collaborative effort by the UK government and North East Lincolnshire Council to rejuvenate the town’s shopping district and ensure its economic sustainability.
As the appointed principal contractor by Queensberry, the council’s regeneration manager, GMI is tasked with creating a contemporary market hall, refreshing the site’s facades and implementing internal upgrades.
The project also includes the construction of a new five-screen cinema and an adjoining leisure facility, both developed as shell-only units to offer flexibility for future tenants.
Additionally, GMI will construct three commercial units specifically designed for food and beverage operators.
Meanwhile, a newly designed public square will serve as a central gathering space, with upgrades to shopfronts and bulkheads within Market Square.
The preliminary phase of the project involves an internal strip-out, followed by the demolition of the current market hall and rooftop car park in mid-2025.
The scheme has garnered significant interest from potential tenants, with Parkway Cinema already pre-letting the five-screen venue and American coffee chain Starbucks confirming its return to the area. Discussions are also ongoing with a ‘leading’ food outlet.
The investment is a continuation of broader regeneration efforts across Grimsby, which include the Onside Youth Zone and a new housing development at Garth Lane.
North East Lincolnshire Council leader and councillor Philip Jackson said: “We’re on a hugely ambitious journey, with significant investment of public funds across our towns and borough. We’re investing in one of the largest schemes this council has ever invested in, and I’m pleased to be working with GMI on this significant contract.
“Our Freshney Place regeneration scheme is, in my firm belief, the most important regeneration project we have seen in North East Lincolnshire. It is key to the future of our town centre – underpinning the other regeneration taking place as well as securing the future of Freshney Place and the 1,700 local jobs it supports.”
Last month, GMI obtained a contract to develop three high-specification warehouse units at Precedent Drive in Milton Keynes, UK.
