Colonnade demolition works begin in Sutton on Sea

The works will see the demolition of Sutton on Sea’s Colonnade, along with other works to make the site ready for a replacement structure to be built, and the pedestrianisation of Skegness’ Tower Esplanade.

Both projects were announced by East Lindsey District Council in August 2020, after the Government awarded the Mablethorpe Town Deal Area and the Skegness Town Deal Area £500,000 and £750,000 accelerated funding respectively, through the Towns Fund programme.

An ELDC spokesman said: “The funding will allow the 1950s Colonnade in Sutton on Sea, which has a number of structural issues, to be removed. Further works will also be undertaken to ensure that the area is ready for redevelopment which will see a replacement structure built.

“The plans for replacement were unveiled by the district council last year after extensive community consultation and include a café, restaurant, day let beach huts, and gallery space.”

Meanwhile, in Skegness, works to part-pedestrianise Tower Esplanade are underway. This follows £400,000 improvement works to Tower Esplanade since 2018, which saw the installation of new street furniture and unique curved lighting structures.

Further projects for both towns have also been identified in Town Investment Plans (TIPs), including a new modern Learning Campus in Skegness, a renovated leisure centre in Mablethorpe, and the replacement Colonnade Structure in Sutton on Sea.

After being signed off by ELDC and the Connected Coast Board in October, the plans were submitted to Government for consideration.

Councillor Steve Kirk, the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy at East Lindsey District Council, said: “It’s great to see these projects get underway.

“We’ve been looking at both these projects for a little while now and it’s fantastic to see real progress being made.

“In Sutton on Sea we will be preparing the area for the transformative redevelopment, which we will hopefully attract further funding for.”