Scheme to 'breathe new life' into dock buildings

Work to further preserve the heritage of an area of Grimsby docks is set to begin.

The three-year programme for the Kasbah area is a partnership between heritage body Historic England, the local council and landowner Associated British Ports (ABP).

It includes £600,000 for building repairs, half from Historic England, and the remainder match-funded by the council, with further funding from ABP.

The latest grant scheme is part of a wider ABP-led regeneration programme in the area, including the Ice Factory's redevelopment as a live events venue and repairs to the port's landmark Dock Tower.

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Philip Jackson said: "The Kasbah is an important place, and growing steadily in terms of the local economy, complementary to the industrial and traditional work based there.

"It's wonderful to see life come back into the older buildings, and the port become both an operational one, as well as one that is supporting new businesses."

Under the scheme, grants will be available for businesses and not-for-profit community organisations to set up work spaces in the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

David Walsh, principal adviser for partnerships at Historic England, said: "The restoration and reuse of historic buildings is a key step towards the docks becoming a thriving area once more."

Andrew Dawes, regional director of the ABP Humber ports, added that the grant scheme would "breathe new life into our historic buildings" and preserve the rich heritage of the port.

The Kasbah has been marketed as a film location due to the large number of period buildings in the area.

It has already hosted several productions, including the Netflix drama Bodies, in which it doubled for wartime London.

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