North East Lincolnshire Council is preparing to spend just over £6 million to fix structural issues linked to RAAC at Grimsby’s Freshney Place car park.
The material, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, was flagged during the council’s £16.5 million acquisition of the shopping centre in 2022. Known for being lightweight but fragile, RAAC has caused disruption across the UK, including temporary closures at hundreds of schools.
Freshney Place’s two car parks, offering a combined 849 spaces, were already in need of major repairs at the time of purchase. Since then, RAAC has also been found in other areas of the centre.
The council is weighing up two options: replacing the faulty concrete entirely or reinforcing it with steel supports. Full replacement is the likely route, with work expected to begin after a formal tender is issued in winter 2025/26. The project could take up to two years.
The cost has been factored into Freshney Place’s long-term planning, and the council says efforts will be made to keep disruption to a minimum for staff, with temporary facilities provided if needed.
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