A senior team from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has visited Grantham to see progress on major regeneration projects being delivered by Lindum for South Kesteven District Council.
The delegation visited the ongoing construction of Turnpike depot – which will bring together bin collection, street cleaning, parks maintenance, housing repairs and vehicle fleet services – and were shown new council homes in the town’s Swinegate.
The group was hosted by SKDC LeaderCllr Ashley Baxter and Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Stokes.
Cllr Baxter said: “It is wonderful to see the difference that the council is making for its residents and great that the Government is taking an interest in our successes. Within just two and a half years we have taken a number of projects from being just a pipe-dream to concrete reality for the benefit of our residents.”
The project in Turnpike Close, Grantham, will offer modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that will be home to more than 250 staff.
Lindum Group Co-chair Freddie Chambers said: “We are delighted to see the depot taking shape. This project will give council teams the modern, efficient base they need to deliver vital frontline services, which is particularly meaningful to us given that more than 100 of our colleagues live within the South Kesteven district.
“We value on our long-standing partnership with South Kesteven District Council and, as a local business, we’re pleased to contribute to Grantham’s regeneration and to support a council that is clearly committed to making lasting improvements.”
The development at Swinegate, also being delivered by Lindum, is an SKDC project to provide 20 new properties for those most in need of somewhere to live.
The one-and two-bedroom flats have been built on 700sqm of disused land and part of the Watergate car park in the heart of Grantham.
The new properties reflect the Georgian character of Swinegate and are designed to be inclusive, accessible, adaptable, energy efficient, sustainable and good value.
The visit was led by Nicola Mearns, MHCLG area lead for Greater Lincolnshire, who said: “MHCLG has a responsibility to know about both the challenges and opportunities that areas are facing. We have been impressed by what we have seen. It is clear that the council is making progress in many different ways and our visit means we will be able to shine a light on what is happening in Grantham.”
The Swinegate and Turnpike Close developments are part of a wider programme of regeneration across Grantham, which also includes work starting on 21 new homes at Larch Close, major improvements to the Market Place and Station Approach, and a series of public realm enhancements through the Future High Streets Fund.
