North East Lincolnshire started its renaissance process in 2001 in the first phase of the Renaissance Towns Programme.

Grimsby

Grimsby became part of Yorkshire Forwards Renaissance programme in 2001.

The aspiration for Grimsby is to become a more attractive and economically and socially desirable place to live, visit, work and play.

The vision is to bring new life to the town centre and surrounding areas through creating more green space, high quality buildings and public realm and rejuvenating the waterside and docks to bring more visitors to the area.

The 25 year programme aims to create an aspirational vision for how the town can develop with a shared vision for the future.

Yorkshire Forward work in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council to create and develop the long term vision for the town and identify key projects that will make this vision a reality.

Since 2001 key projects have started in the town and many are in the early stages of development

• St James Church: This is the first project to be completed in Grimsby. The St James Centre is an extension to St James Church. This renaissance project creates a meeting place for the local community in the heart of Grimsby town centre. The centre offers local facilities for meetings, advice and guidance, learning and training, presentations and counselling.
• Victoria Street Pedestrianisation: This is a public realm project running through the heart of the town centre. It incorporates local public art, a wireless hotspot and high quality streetscape. The project is currently on site and due for completion in 2008.
• Catergate: In the early stages of development this project is looking to help connect the residential areas of Grimsby with the town centre. The aim is to deliver new high quality buildings that incorporate a mix of uses and develop a series of public spaces that will be open to everyone.
• Alexandra Docks: this is a key site for the area. One of the major opportunities for Grimsby is to re-establish the historic connections to the docks and develop new leisure areas in the town centre and next to the waterside.

Alongside the projects Grimsby also has an active town team which meets regularly to discuss progress on the projects, the shared vision for Grimsby and what the future aspirations for the town are.

Cleethorpes

In 2002/03, the Cleethorpes Resort Regeneration Strategy was developed with the vision of developing Cleethorpes as the festival capital of the east coast. This vision guided the development of numerous packages as follows:

• Cleethorpes IDP Support Phase One: development of a purpose built coach park (to provide the facilities to attract more coach parties) and some 'resort image improvements'. These include improved access to the Site of Special Scientific Interest, improved interpretation and signage throughout the resort and reinstatement of Kingsway Gardens.
• Meridian Lakeside events arena: interventions by both the public and private sector which include: the creation of a large outdoor events arena with a 10,000 people capacity; the development of craft units for small businesses; public realm improvements in particular to the Lakeside area and boating lake and the extension of the Cleethorpes light railway.

Approximately £815,000 will be invested by Yorkshire Forward into Cleethorpe’s renaissance.