Ninety buildings on a main road through Grimsby and Cleethorpes have been smartened up.
Property owners are responding positively to calls to fix up their buildings as part of Operation Gateway.
The Council launched the campaign in June 2020 to improve the street scene on the A180 Cleethorpe Road and Grimsby Road.
Focused on the stretch between Riby Square in Grimsby and Isaacs Hill in Cleethorpes, the Council started encouraging owners of street-facing properties to make improvements.
Big changes can now be seen on scores of buildings in Cleethorpe Road.
Some of the problems put right include damaged window frames, broken or missing render, flaking paintwork, shrubs growing in brickwork, missing gutters and drainpipes and vegetation in the gutters and on the roof.
Some had set an example by already making changes before the project started, but many responded to calls from the Council to fix up their properties.
The Council’s aim with the project is to grow business confidence in this part of town by encouraging property owners to make physical improvements to their buildings and make the area more attractive.
The campaign is being rolled out in phases through a combination of education, advice and, if needed, enforcement action.
Phased approach
In the first phase of the project, officers contacted the owners of 75 properties between Riby square and Humber Street, along with parts of Freeman Street and Kent Street.
So far, improvements are finished or are in progress at 64 of the properties. Of the 11 remaining buildings, four have been served legal notices to complete specified works.
Phase two of the project is focused on the area between Humber Street and Park Street.
Officers identified 44 properties that needed improving and works are complete at 26 of them. Work has started at five of the remaining properties.
The team is now writing to all property owners in phase three and have identified 108 properties in need of works. This will help smarten up the appearance of Grimsby Road between Park Street and Lestrange Street/Suggitt’s Lane.
Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:
“Operation gateway has had a fantastic start and we’re already seeing big improvements along a key route through the borough.
“For the owners of 90 buildings to get behind what we’re doing and improve the street scene is an excellent result.
“We are pursuing resolutions with owners of a small number of neglected properties who have yet to start making improvements.
“I’m grateful to all those who are responding positively to the initiative and making a difference to the area.”
Cllr Callum Procter, portfolio holder for Economic Development, Housing and Tourism, added:
“I’m pleased to see so many property and business owners taking their role seriously and making the place look better.
“Fixing up rundown buildings makes the area more attractive to investors and will bring benefits for the whole neighbourhood.
“We’ve already seen new enterprises opening in the areas targeted first by the campaign, this is a positive sign and shows that by working together we can build business confidence and make it a place to be proud of.”
The Council is looking for positive case studies from property owners who are investing in their buildings along the road. To find out more, email gatewayimprovements@nelincs.gov.uk
Article and images from NELC.
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