Levelling up: Cleethorpes transformation plan awarded £18m

Designer Wayne Hemingway said transformation plans for Cleethorpes aimed to create "a new legacy for the town"

A seaside town's plan to become the top destination on Lincolnshire's coast has received more than £18m from the government's £2.1bn Levelling Up Fund.

The rejuvenation plan for Cleethorpes was masterminded by designer Wayne Hemingway.

North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) leader Philip Jackson said the money would help make Cleethorpes "a better place to visit and live".

Barton-upon-Humber has been awarded almost £20m for transport improvements.

Council leader Philip Jackson, said work would start as soon as the council could "mobilise resources"

Mr Jackson said the £18,412,039 for Cleethorpes would be used to fund a "transformational regeneration" of the seafront, Market Square and Pier Gardens.

He said the bid for cash from the government was based on the town's masterplan, which was "well received by the community last year".

"We only got letters late on Wednesday night to say that we'd got the money and we've got to tick a number of boxes before we get it, but we'll start working on the schemes straight away and will progress with them as quickly as we can," he added.

The plans were previously described by councillor Ian Lindley as "one of the biggest sets of plans in this area in living memory".

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However, two bids for funding for projects in Grimsby were turned down.

NELC had hoped to secure £20m to help fund the development of the western end of the Freshney Place shopping centre and a further £20m to build a transport hub in the town.

The town was previously awarded £20.9m as part of the government's Towns Fund in March 2021.

Meanwhile, £19,703,042 awarded to Barton for transport improvements is set to be used on improvements to the A1077, more than eight miles (14km) of new cycle lanes and improvements to the town's railway station.

Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "There can be no doubt that levelling-up is happening here in North Lincolnshire - the cash will make a huge difference to Barton, Barrow and other communities.

"It is really pleasing the Government has backed these ambitious plans that will have a huge impact on the lives of people across our county.

"We are determined to improve local infrastructure, to create new futures for our towns and this latest money will do just that."

A total of 111 areas across the UK have been awarded money from the second round of the government's Levelling Up Fund.

However, Labour have argued the money did not make up for past cuts made by Conservative governments.