Lincoln MP Karl McCartney is going shopping on Saturday (March 25) in a part of the city which is undergoing a massive regeneration programme.
Mr McCartney, who will be accompanied by his family and joined by Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG) Chief Executive Matt Corrigan, is looking forward to picking-up some bargains and chatting to traders in the Sincil Street and Markets area.
Over the past few months, Sincil Street shopkeepers and traders in the city’s indoor market have continued to provide a friendly and helpful service to both loyal customers and newer visitors to the area whilst the major transformational scheme is underway.
And with the new High Street footbridge and East-West Link Road schemes completed and work to create the city’s new £30million Transport Hub gathering pace, things are looking up.
Phase one of Lincolnshire Co-op’s redevelopment of The Cornhill Quarter is due to open in the middle of the year, when two new retailers, Flying Tiger Copenhagen and Moss Bros, as well as restaurant chain Cosy Club will bring their names to the Corn Exchange building.
The next phases of the £40m redevelopment will encompass Sincil Street, which will undergo a sensitive combination of repair, refurbishment and extension. This will sit alongside the new transport hub, which is being created by City of Lincoln Council with a new 1,000 space car park, state of the art bus station, taxi and cycling facilities adjacent to the railway station, due to be completed by 2018.
In addition, the Central Market and City Square has already seen changes to the layout of indoor stalls and a fresh produce offer has been introduced for shoppers outside in City Square.
Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “There is still a lot of work to be done, but shoppers and visitors should be starting to see the benefits of all this investment in time and money.
“We really admire our levy payers, who have shown patience and perseverance whilst these schemes are being progressed.”
City of Lincoln Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney JP MP, said: “I am delighted to be taking a closer look at the changes underway in this important part of our City and am looking forward to popping into the shops and chatting to traders based in Sincil Street.
“Small businesses and independent traders are at the heart of our local economy, which is why I am passionate about helping them thrive. To this end, we must continue to provide for our local traders a strong, stable economic climate that supports investment and growth.
“Traditionally, the Sincil Street area has been the first to be seen by shoppers and visitors on their arrival in Lincoln. Hopefully, these substantial changes will bring extra footfall and business to this area.”
Lincolnshire Co-operative Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter said: “We’re delighted with the progress of the first phase of the Cornhill Quarter project. Our contractor Lindum is on track to hand over the keys to the units in June. It means the new businesses will be open this summer, bringing in more footfall to that part of the city which will also benefit the existing traders.
“We’ve had positive feedback from many people on the progress of the scheme particularly around the sensitive restoration of the Corn Exchange building, which is such a key feature in the area.
“The Cornhill Quarter will revitalise and expand the retail and leisure offer in the city of Lincoln, boosting the local economy through the creation of local jobs and growing numbers of visitors to Lincoln.”
City of Lincoln Council Leader Ric Metcalfe said: “Sincil Street and the surrounding area is an important part of the city, well known for its wealth of independent traders and retailers.
“The £30 million Lincoln Transport Hub project, including a new bus station and 1,000-space multi-storey car park, together with Lincolnshire Co-op’s Cornhill Quarter redevelopment project will increase footfall and help to transform the area for the benefit of businesses, as well as residents, shoppers and commuters.”
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