Funded by EMDA and ELDC the study has been carried out in partnership with key organisations such as Network Rail, East Midlands Trains, EMDA and LCC.
The key aims of the work were to provide options for redevelopment of the station which could be assessed against a number of criteria but mainly on cost, practical operation and overall deliverability. The objectives included the need to provide an attractive visitor gateway to the Lincolnshire coast, consideration of possible retail/commercial/residential uses to help fund development and the opportunity to rationalise current public transport links at the station to provide a more effective transport hub.
ivan.pannell@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Cost of Development: £15,000,000
A series of client workshops held throughout the study have helped to refine a range of initial ideas into a preferred option. The final version of the report is expected this week (w/c 14th April) although the draft report has already been submitted. In summary the report proposes a phased redevelopment which allows scope in the future for ambitious changes to the wider area but which in the first instance provides a model for developing the station area as a stand alone project. The client group felt this was a suitable compromise in reflecting both a deliverable scheme in the more immediate term but also recognising the opportunity to set out some longer term ambitions.
The study has brought the relevant parties together but this relationship needs to be built on to make further progress. Network Rail are the biggest stakeholder as the station is in their ownership but ELDC also have significant land holding interests in the shape of the bus/coach station. Recommendations from the study involve taking the project forward via a ‘master developer’ route where a developer is selected to deliver the scheme in a co-ordinated rather than piecemeal manner.
Initial calculations for the first phase redevelopment of the station show a funding gap in the region of £7m. This is after contributions from both Network Rail and East Midlands Trains have been taken into account. The challenge will be to identify ways of closing this gap and making the development attractive and worthwhile for potential developers. Some assistance from public sector bodies such as EMDA and CABE could be available alongside the use of S106 agreements and this will be one of the key areas that the partnership will need to focus on in taking the project forward
