Pier Gardens is a 14,000 square metre garden area in the heart of Cleethorpes, and is the subject of one of the three Levelling Up Funded projects in the town, alongside Market Place and Sea Road.
In the Masterplan, developed with local people and approved by the Council in 2022, local residents and businesses wanted to see the gardens changed and refreshed, to include new activities for children to do, a space for quiet contemplation, but also as a better space for hosting markets and other entertainment. This concept was included in the Masterplan, and subsequently received Government funding to progress.
Last year, the Council tendered for landscape designers to take the concept plans to the next stage, and the contract has been awarded to WSP, who have, as part of their team, Hemingway Design, who worked on the Masterplan.
Anson Forrester, from WSP, said: “We can’t wait to get going on this project. It’s a fabulous resort and can only be enhanced by the work in the gardens. We’ll be looking for input from local people in to take the works from concept to final design – please do take part, ultimately, these are your public gardens, and like the council, we want to see these used. The design of the gardens will be key to that – creating spaces that people want to spend time in.”
Councillor Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, said: “Cleethorpes has a wealth of assets that can enable it to be at the forefront of regeneration. Opened in 1885, Pier Gardens’ location is at the heart of the resort and the scope for re-development is vast. The area for regeneration presents a unique opportunity to create a space that will become an attraction for residents and visitors alike. The linear park raised above Central Promenade is a hidden and an underutilised gem of a public green space that could offer so much more.”
WSP has recently completed projects in Swansea, Lowestoft and Blackburn, and has a track record of working with coastal communities delivering projects that change how people feel about spaces in their towns.
The next stage of the Pier Gardens work will involve drop in sessions where people can find out more and give their detailed views about the space – how it could work, what could be included, how the space needs to change and adapt for our future climate and mobility.
The first drop in session is a joint one with the Market Place project on 29 February at Cleethorpes Town Hall between 12noon and 7pm.
Sessions will also be held with community groups and local stakeholders, as well as being able to feedback your thoughts online.
The final design for the gardens will be based on feedback, as well as budgetary considerations, and is planned to be developed over the first half of this year, with construction starting in the autumn / winter of 2024.
