With economic growth a key council priority for Lincolnshire, there are a number of projects underway around the county.
South Lincolnshire Food Enterprize Zone
The South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) is a huge project that is progressing fast! A high quality business park is being created to meet demand from food technology businesses, close to existing food producers to the north west of Holbeach.
One of the key new developments on the 15-acre site, is the University of Lincoln’s Food Centre of Excellence. Utilities and roads have already been installed to progress this build and further infrastructure is now being put in place to provide access to the last eight plots in this phase of the development.
As well as over £5 million that the council has invested, the project has recently been boosted with £6.4 million of government money from the ‘Getting Building Fund’. This will help accelerate further developments on and around the site, including a brand new ‘hub’ building which will include areas for smaller enterprises, a cafe, meeting and networking space, helping to foster a community for tenants specialising in the Agri Food Sector.
Find out more about the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone here
Huttoft beach cafe
Visitors and locals enjoying Lincolnshire’s natural coastline will be able to visit the new Boat Shed beach cafe at Huttoft next year.
The cafe itself has been constructed off-site ready to be installed over the winter. It’s hoped that it will attract more walkers and cyclists to the area, with future investment in these facilities planned too.
Skegness Business Park
Works are progressing well to extend the business park site in Skegness off the A52 to the west of the town.
The £2.4million expansion started in August with a new highway being constructed, along with drainage and utility services, joining up two parts of the existing industrial estate and expanding it onto the surrounding land.
Businesses will be able to grow or re-locate with their own purpose-built units, encouraging more year-round employment.
The site will be suitable for a wide range of uses, and will encourage future investment – a big confidence boost for our coastal areas. Works are due for completion in Spring 2021.
The scheme is jointly funded by the county council and a £1.279 million Single Local Growth Fund
grant from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP).
Growing Business Space
The council owns and manages a range of business centres, commercial units and development land in Lincolnshire. Because of the changing needs of some businesses in Market Deeping recently, we are looking at how to make the most of the space available at the Eventus Business Centre.
Offering competitive rents and favourable terms, we are supporting new and growing businesses to flourish as the covid-19 pandemic continues. When the market has settled, we will also look at providing additional space for businesses in the area.
Looking back and looking forward
A new structure, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers is being installed at Scotia Creek near Boston. The metal viewing platform allows visitors to look out to the Wash and beyond, at an important spot in the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims and their voyage to New England in the 1600s.
The joint project between Arts Council England and Lincolnshire County Council adds to a series of shelters and lookouts installed on our coast in recent years, supporting future tourism in the area.
The design considers themes of navigation and exploration of unknown worlds. The platform provides shelter and has seating that can be altered by visitors to give views back to Boston, as well as out to sea.