Cash from the Government Town’s fund will be used for the project
Author: Ivan Morris Poxton Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1 hour ago
A new £2.5m science and technology centre for children and families will be created in the heart of Scunthorpe.
North Lincolnshire Council has announced that £2.5m of government Towns Fund cash will fund the project.
Repairs to the walls, roof and exterior of St John’s Church by the council’s headquarters at Church Square House will make the whole building accessible and connected to the square.
The consequent larger space for events and activities will allow for the creation of Discover@20-21, a new, specialist interactive science and technology centre aimed at children and families. This will add to the existing award-winning arts and heritage exhibitions held at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre already there.
North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham said:
“This work will restore one of our key heritage sites and a notable local landmark. It will be fantastic to see the hoardings finally come down and open this space up further for community events.
“This is the latest part of our plans which have been backed by millions of pounds of government cash, everything is designed around creating a new, different future for Scunthorpe town centre – the science and technology centre will be a major addition to Scunthorpe.
“We must create more reasons to come into town so people can have different experiences and leisure activities. That is what we are doing to create a new, modern, thriving place and the government has shown its confidence in these projects with hard cash.”
Church Square has already seen a share of the Towns Fund award of £20.9m for Scunthorpe that was confirmed in 2021. A new urban park was opened in September 2022 after more than a year’s delay to its completion, partly due to the pandemic.
This got £1m Towns Fund cash, and the council hopes to get royal sign-off to rename the 2.5 acre site Queen Elizabeth Gardens. The new park includes newly renovated grass and seating areas, trees planted, and a water fountain.
The latest redevelopment plans will be developed further if the council gets listed planning consent – St John’s Church is a Grade II* listed building. Included will be more work on the park and gardens to extend the wildlife haven in the heart of the town, and expand the space for families and nearby school children, connecting the venue to the outdoor space.
The church will also have a new eco-friendly climate control system installed, opening the door to new exhibitions and displays.
Scunthorpe’s MP Holly Mumby-Croft is vice chair of the Towns Fund Board. She said:
“There is no doubt that traders in high streets up and down the country are fighting hard to be part of a new future.
“These latest plans will reshape the experience people can have in the heart of the town, there will be more reasons for people to come along and that will mean more people shopping and spending money with local traders. The cash from Government is being used to develop a range of projects that connect people – physically and virtually- to jobs, culture, leisure and retail. It’s really exciting and I am looking forward to seeing the church transformed and a new science and technology centre developed.”
The £2.5m for the repairs of St John’s Church and creation of Discover@20-21 is part of more than £80m of government funding for major council projects in North Lincolnshire. This has included cash for roads, new motorway junctions and £1m to help fund refits and rebuilds of vacant units in Scunthorpe.
Under the latter initiative, property owners and developers can apply for up to £15,000 per vacant unit to bring back vacant units or derelict sites into residential use or create new-build homes.
