National Lottery Funding secured for major project at Grimsby's former House of Fraser building

MORE than £2.6million has been awarded to the 'Window to 1913 project' from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for conservation repair and restoration works to Grimsby's former House of Fraser building.

The grant is part of the Heritage Fund's long-term Heritage Places scheme to boost pride in place and connection to heritage.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Fund is investing at least £200million in places across the UK to put heritage at the centre of local approaches that improve people's connection to where they live, work and visit.

North East Lincolnshire was announced as a Heritage Place in 2023, and since then, projects across the area have been supported with Heritage Fund grants as part of the programme, including the DUNE project and Cleethorpes Heritage Revealed in Cleethorpes, Hammond House Ltd’s Heritage Channel, What if We Create’s Print Made Grimsby project and the Heritage Place Hidden Stories small grant scheme.

The former House of Fraser building is a significant town centre building, with more than 86 metres of windows and building facing Victoria Street. The rear of the building also leads into Freshney Place.

The Council bought the former House of Fraser buildings at 9-29 Victoria Street in December 2023, with a view to seeing them fully repaired, and brought back into use as part of wider town centre regeneration.

Several pieces of work have come together related to the building this year.

• Winter 2025-26: Internal strip out of the building to remove redundant electrics and furnishings.
• February 2026: two key grants were secured to look at improving the frontage – including a development grant of just over £62,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and a £50,000 grant from Historic England.
• Feb to May 2026: a conservation architect and heritage specialists worked together to prepare the key documentation (designs, cost schedule etc) that would form the basis for the delivery phase funding bid (submitted 28th May 2026), to allow the improvement works, and a programme of engagement activities.
• June 2026: Planning application submitted for the exterior works. Approved in October 2026.
• November 2026: Funding awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

As recently reported, TKMaxx have signed up to occupy the building once the works have been completed.

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Lasting change happens when communities come together to celebrate the stories, people and places that shape them. It’s fantastic to see our investment across North East Lincolnshire making a real difference. In Grimsby, the Window to 1913 project at the former House of Fraser shows how a much-loved historic building can become a catalyst for change. Thanks to National Lottery players, this heritage landmark will be given a new future, while wider investment in local heritage will help boost pride in place, attract visitors and support the local economy.”

Cllr Oliver Freeston, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of their Heritage Places programme. The stretch of buildings is significant in how that part of Victoria Street looks and feels, and to get them back into use will make a big change to the town.”