Freshney Place

I wondered what the views of those on here about NELC buying Freshney Place for £20 + million are. I always thought public ownership was a labour ideal ( Nationalisation ) but this now seems to be the tory way. If the current owners cannot attract national companies into the empty shops and make money, with their knowledge and contacts, of the shopping centre systems of this world then how do the council expect to do it.

To my mind, the council, with £20 million, have missed a great opportunity to regenerate Freeman St ( as much a high st as Victoria St.). A new football stadium with associated shops etc. would not only help the club but reinvent the area.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/deal-buy-freshney-place-approved-7242428

As a fellow town fan I can see where you’re coming from DB, but the town centre is the heart beat of Grimsby and it’s been dying a slow death. I think if they can actually get this right (I have my doubts) and give us a vibrant multi use shopping and entertainment centre that attracts people night and day 7 days a week, then this will benefit everyone in the town not just the town fans.

Not often I agree with Humbercod, or the council for that matter, but they can't let the centre of the town die and with the right approach, it could be a success.

Steady on Humber, you might be the voice of reason!

Time for a new signature then 😀😀😀

Freeman Street died 30(+) years ago, and I’m amazed at this obsession with regenerating it. Best thing that could happen would be to bulldoze from Riby Square half way to Hainton Ave, replace all the boarded up retail units with housing (or a football ground).

Victoria Street is the better shopping area, but without major intervention, will simply follow the Freeman Street decline. The retail environment has moved from physical stores to online purchasing. Until the Government bring in an online sales tax, and lower business rates, this will only continue.

The high street died, not just here, but everywhere. The owners of fresh eh place were shortsighted and literally did anything to get money. They allowed certain shops to dictate and then charged outrageous rents to everyone.

The number of empty units is caused by a combination of crazy rent but also various companies and shops going bust or downsizing their portfolio. That’s not helpful in any situation.

There are various examples of shopping centres working thoigh and with Freshney place being the centre of town, the council are right to purchase it. Use those examples of successful places and create something for our town.

There are always naysayers, usually folk that never venture far from town or just poo poo everything but in the main, their a minority of folk. It needs something that isn’t just retail, things like Junp Inc, food outlets, community spaces, affordable rents and so forth. It can be done. Local folk will support it but also need to realise that shops like H&M and the likes won’t just come here, it needs to fit their business model so you either adapt to entice them or realise it isn’t happening.

I’d also imagine that owning Freshney place means the redevelopment of the market area is much simpler as they wouldn’t be fighting a private company clinging on to something failing to secure but a few pounds.

Ironically, the way Freshney place looked back in the day, planters, benches, the food outlets upstairs and so forth is exactly how successful shopping centres look these days.

Freshney Place/Riverhead Centre has never been the same since the Friar Tuck closed  

Quoted from aldi_01

The high street died, not just here, but everywhere. The owners of fresh eh place were shortsighted and literally did anything to get money. They allowed certain shops to dictate and then charged outrageous rents to everyone.

The number of empty units is caused by a combination of crazy rent but also various companies and shops going bust or downsizing their portfolio. That’s not helpful in any situation.

There are various examples of shopping centres working thoigh and with Freshney place being the centre of town, the council are right to purchase it. Use those examples of successful places and create something for our town.

There are always naysayers, usually folk that never venture far from town or just poo poo everything but in the main, their a minority of folk. It needs something that isn’t just retail, things like Junp Inc, food outlets, community spaces, affordable rents and so forth. It can be done. Local folk will support it but also need to realise that shops like H&M and the likes won’t just come here, it needs to fit their business model so you either adapt to entice them or realise it isn’t happening.

I’d also imagine that owning Freshney place means the redevelopment of the market area is much simpler as they wouldn’t be fighting a private company clinging on to something failing to secure but a few pounds.

Ironically, the way Freshney place looked back in the day, planters, benches, the food outlets upstairs and so forth is exactly how successful shopping centres look these days.

It was the start of the decline when the food court went in my view.