North Lincolnshire Council has taken a further step towards making Scunthorpe High Street and the area around it greener.
The council was awarded £500,000 Levelling Up Fund cash last May to brighten up the High Street, with a particular focus on making it greener. It hired last month AHR Building Consultancy to carry out a topographical survey to work out the lie of the land.
The plans include the creation of a green corridor in the High Street “to improve the environment and provide areas for social interaction”. New seating and planters will also be installed in Jubilee Way, the main shopping area of Scunthorpe.
“We are committed to transforming Scunthorpe High Street into a more visually appealing and vibrant space,” said council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds Ward). “The planned green corridor will replace some hard paving with greenery, including trees and plants, creating a welcoming environment that supports biodiversity and enhances the area for residents and visitors alike. The improvements will be on the High Street and Jubilee Way.”
“This project is set to begin in Spring 2025,” he said, adding the money awarded can only be spent on schemes like this. Town Ward’s two Labour councillors have welcomed the plans, though called for more investment in the area, not just the council HQ end of the town.
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“We welcome the creation of a green corridor along Scunthorpe High Street to improve the environment,” said Cllr Mashook Ali. “The council’s parks and green spaces department has done some outstanding landscaping in North Lincolnshire and so we are confident that they will create imaginative and appropriate planting and seating for the High Street.
“This will improve the appearance of the area, create a better ambience and hopefully attract more visitors. However, much more needs to happen on the High Street to revitalise it.”
A CGI impression of one option for the planned High Street green corridor in Scunthorpe, showing a plant bed located along the stretch where Starbucks is
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)
Cllr Lorraine Yeadon noted the significant multi-million spend on the Elizabeth Quarter at the former town market site, and the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Gardens. At Elizabeth Quarter, an accommodation bloc has been completed and the enterprise and innovation hub is nearly done. Its cost had risen to £13.9m in 2022. The green space revamp outside the council’s HQ cost over £1m to do.
Referencing these projects, Cllr Yeadon said: “Many residents have commented this is a waste of money. Whereas, if a fraction of that amount was used on the High Street it could benefit local people enormously.
“For example, a new community centre is desperately needed in the area to replace the existing facility on Carlton Street which is regularly used by over 800 people each week from all over the area. Or a new leisure facility for teenagers.”
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