Contracts signed for £20m leisure scheme

Contracts have been signed for a proposed new £20m leisure development in Grimsby with a major cinema chain secured as anchor tenant.Freshney Place Shopping Centres has signed the land contracts with North East Lincolnshire Council for the project, and agreed a deal for a Cineworld cinema.Detailed planning consent was recently awarded for a new complex comprising a nine-screen cinema and seven restaurants.The development will be built as an extension to the Freshney Place Shopping Centre in the town’s Riverhead area, which will be regenerated by the council. The site currently comprises a redundant ex bus station area adjacent to the centre.It is designed to complement and work with the centre, including the expanded 47,000 sq ft Primark store which opened in January.The development is expected to support the creation of about 350 construction jobs and a further 130 long-term roles. The capital investment, which includes tenants fit outs, will be between £18m and £20m.The new development was designed by Leslie Jones Architecture.