Questions have been raised about the future of Devonshire House in Grimsby.
In a recent North East Lincolnshire Council live Q&A, a resident questioned what would become of the long-vacant building amid major redevelopment work in the town centre.
The prominent retail and office block on Bull Ring Land has stood empty for years and is continuing to fall further into disrepair. Its deteriorating condition has prompted renewed scrutiny as the council presses ahead with a £50 million regeneration of the adjacent Freshney Place shopping centre.
The authority has confirmed there are currently no plans to refurbish Devonshire House, stressing that the property is privately owned. However, officials said they are in ongoing discussions with the owner in the hope the building can be brought back into use.
The property is currently on the market with an asking price of £1.8 million.
Devonshire House is a currently comprised of two ground-floor retail units with five floors of self-contained office space above, however previous planning permission has also been granted for a significant redevelopment — with a proposed change of use from office space to the creation of 45 flats.
Despite its potential and its prime location next to one of the town’s largest regeneration projects, the building remains empty, with no confirmed plans for its future. As Freshney Place undergoes a major transformation, questions are increasing over whether the privately owned site will follow suit or continue to stand unused at the heart of Grimsby’s redevelopment zone.
What would you like to see done with the building? Let us know in the comments.
(Image: Google Maps)
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.