£350k For Scarborough Brunswick Centre Study

Monday, 2 September 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

North Yorkshire Council is to carry out a £350,000 feasibility study looking at what role it might have in the redevelopment of Scarborough's Brunswick Centre.

The centre is owned by Scarborough Group International who are seeking Council support to deliver the redevelopment, which would transform the centre from retail to leisure use.

Councillor Mark Crane is the council's Executive Member for Business, he thinks the study is a good investment in the town.

Scarborough Group International (SGI) bought the “mostly vacant shopping centre” in 2021 as part of a multi-million-pound plan to transform the 1990s centre into a major cinema and leisure destination.

A decision on a cinema operator was expected in the months following the council’s approval and in November last year, SGI said it had chosen a partner to run the cinema.

However, the chosen partner has not yet been named publicly amid ongoing “legal matters”.

The conversion of the ailing Brunswick shopping centre aims to turn it into a leisure-led destination, complete with national bar and restaurant chains, indoor sport and recreation, and increased parking space.

Scarborough Councillor - Heather Philips - has welcomed the council's decision to proceed with the feasibility study..

The council's finance chief - Councillor Gareth Dadd - says that the £350k study is a first step and doesn't mean the council will plough more funds in to the scheme.

Gary says the study will be used to determine whether or not public funds should be used in the redevelopment of the centre.

Councillor Simon Myers is supportive of the idea and thinks the redevelopment of the Brunswick would have a major impact on the town.

A report presented to the council's Executive asked for £350k to be allocated to the study saying:

"To progress this project a budget of £350k is requested for a feasibility study, of which £50k is potentially being met from a drawdown from the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA). Subject to positive outcomes from this work, there will then be an Executive report requesting a one-year loan to SGI to cover pre-development costs."

The Executive Committee approved the funding.