Revealed: town’s £2m upgrade

Architects have revealed how Caistor’s derelict former Co-op store could be transformed into a thriving facility for the town - with a tourist information centre and exhibition space.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Dec 2015, 13:45 BST
The proposed design for the former Caistor Co-op EMN-150712-091346001The proposed design for the former Caistor Co-op EMN-150712-091346001
The proposed design for the former Caistor Co-op EMN-150712-091346001

Heritage Lincolnshire and Hodson Architects revealed the designs to residents at a presentation in the town’s arts and heritage centre on Thursday evening (December 3).

The plans show how the ground floor of the listed building will have a retail unit and tourist information area, an exhibition space, and five units that can be used for either offices, retail or 
crafts.

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The second floor will be a mix of flats, self catering apartments, and bed and breakfast rooms.

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And the top floor will have more bed and breakfast rooms, flats, and space for general residential 
use.

Heritage Lincolnshire architecture and culture team leader Alison Berwick said: “All these things are identified in the Caistor development plan as things the town is aspiring to.”

Ms Berwick said a final report on the project - estimated to cost £2 million - will be presented to Caistor Town Council and Lincolnshire Co-op at the end of January.

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This will include a recommendation for the next step - and funding 
options.

Officers from the Heritage Lottery Fund have already visited the site and Ms Berwick said they were ‘certainly interested in it’.

Ms Berwick said: “It’s very much the right time to move it forward.

“There are funding programmes out there.

“We want to do something for Caistor.

“It’s a large building and we want to make a positive change.”

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Ms Berwick said the community had been extremely positive about the project but said they needed to know it could take some time before the work was 
complete.

She said: “These types of projects can take time and realistically it might be four years before it’s 
completed.”

The Co-op building has stood empty since the company moved into its purpose-built High Street premises in December 
2010.

Back in the spring, two town businesses announced they were closing - both blaming a lack of 
trade.

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And some residents blamed a lack of trade on the former Co-op building, which they described as ‘an 
eyesore’.

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