Freshney Place goes from strength to strength

The latest report into Freshney Place’s growth was received at the Council Cabinet Subcommittee this week, and highlights the work being done not only for the retail sector, but also the work around sustainability and helping to protect the environment.

Did you know

• There are EV chargers in the centre

• Bug hotels and hedgehog houses have been created and installed from recycled materials

• The centre harvests rainwater for use

• LED lighting is rolling out through the centre

• We reduce lighting levels during low footfall periods

• And all waste is recycled or converted from waste to energy

Freshney Place has also supported several social initiatives, such as weekly autism hour every Saturday morning and Purple Tuesday to raise awareness and improve the experiences of disabled people. It has also hosted events to raise awareness of Alzheimers, supporting the Great Grimsby Sleep Out event to raise awareness of Harbour Place, and supporting lots of other initiatives. Freshney Place has signed up to the Purple 365 initiative, which offers disability training and development resources for shopping centre staff.

Meanwhile, on the retail side, the report, which covers the period from November 2023 to October 2024, shows that since the Council took over the shopping centre, several additional tenants have been secured, and deals have been done to secure several leases with other retailers committing to both the centre and the new development.

The shopping centre is currently running at approximately 96.6% of all lettable space being occupied, up from 92% in November 2023.

Footfall remains well above 6 million visits (6,297,035) in the period covered by the business plan. There was a slight dip in numbers since the closure of the Flottergate Mall units, which was a requirement of the redevelopment.

A reduction of footfall is a general trend in shopping centres across the UK, as customers research more online (but crucially spend the same amount) before visiting shopping centres with a specific purchase in mind.

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “This is a really exciting time for the centre of Grimsby – there will be lots of work going on right across the town, and people will be able to see, and feel, the change in the town as it progresses.

“Walking around Freshney Place, you can see progress – other than the redevelopment area, there are barely any vacant units, and with the Community Diagnostic Centre opening soon, these are exciting times.

“Everything we’re doing to improve the town centre, working with our partners to bring more people in, will help boost the town centre footfall, and gives the opportunity for people to choose to spend with our local businesses.

“Freshney Place currently supports around 1700 jobs for local people – this is something that will only grow as the leisure development, and the rest of the developments our partners are progressing, come to fruition.”

Coming soon!

The business plan for 2025 focuses on key areas: maximising the retention of as many occupiers as possible; increasing occupancy and attracting new diverse lettings to complement the existing tenant mix; and creating a more family centric experience, to increase dwell time and footfall in the centre.

Work has started on the leisure scheme works this week, with contractors taking over the site previously occupied by Top Town Market, and the Flottergate units. The first element of the work will involve stripping out the internal structure of the old Market and preparing it for demolition.

Additionally, the temporary market will be moved into a unit facing Riverhead Square in a few months.

The council is also working with other partners on various schemes:

• The Community Diagnostic Centre is progressing with the first phase due to open within Freshney Place in the coming month.

• St James House will be completed this year, and lettings are already available and have been advertised by e-factor to bring more small businesses into the town centre.

• OnSide are progressing well with the new Youth Zone on Garth Lane.

• Keepmoat have the planning application in to create a housing development on Garth Lane.

• Work is progressing on the first phase of the Transport Hub off Osborne Street.

• Abbey Walk car park is due for demolition as it is at the end of its useful life, to be replaced by a surface car park.

Alongside the leisure development, there are also some major capital works to the shopping centre that need to be carried out over the next 12-24 months, including previously approved improvements to the car parks at Freshney Place, and refurbishment of the House of Fraser building so that it includes lettable space.