Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council has backed ambitious plans for a new multiplex cinema and commercial units in Gainsborough town centre have moved a step closer.

Savoy Cinemas has submitted a planning application to West Lindsey District Council to consider, which includes a four-screen cinema, three commercial units and car parking.

If granted permission, the development is expected to create 25 new jobs and contribute £1.3 million Gross Value Added to the local economy each year.

The development is earmarked for the Lindsey Centre site, situated in the Market Place, which was vacated by Oldrids in early 2018. The applicants say that it has been designed to complement the existing conservation area and surrounding listed buildings.

If permission is granted, Lincolnshire Co-op’s travel branch and Post Office would be relocated to alternative town centre locations before work starts. Until then, both will continue to serve customers from the current locations

Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Giles McNeill said:

“This application demonstrates that West Lindsey continues to be a great place to invest. In part this is thanks to the Governments’ ongoing commitment to support Growth.

“Savoy Cinemas have chosen to add Gainsborough to their portfolio of cinemas. This development has the potential to provide a much-needed additional to the evening economy offer for the town. It will boost footfall by around 120,000 visits a year which will benefit existing local businesses, create new jobs, deliver an improved leisure offer for people. It is a key milestone in our Invest Gainsborough journey, which we started in 2016 with the launch of our investment brochure and our ambitious £18 million regeneration plans.

“This development fits nicely with the other town centre initiatives, such as the Townscape Heritage Initiative, which will restore historic buildings and heritage assets thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Market Street Renewal, which has made good a number of formally run down and derelict shops and created residential dwellings above them and, not forgetting, the new Travelodge.”

Anyone that wants to see and comment on the plans can do so on the Council’s website or at the Guildhall, Gainsborough.