Approval granted for multi-million pound projects transforming Doncaster’s town centre

Earlier this week (Tuesday 2 August), Doncaster Council’s Cabinet approved two projects which will continue the transformation of the town centre, deliver jobs and economic growth.

Colonnades in Doncaster is set for a £3.3m renovation to provide new offices and enhance the existing retail space.

Built in the 1980s, the brick built building comprises five floors of office space which vacated by Doncaster Council when services moved into the nearby Civic Office.

The ground floor offers retail space, and there is an underground car park and additional parking for the offices at the first floor level.

Studies have shown the lack of suitable office accommodation in the town centre is pushing requirements out of town. This Sheffield City Region Investment Fund (SCRIF) backed project will help reverse this trend by rejuvenating the building situated close to Doncaster train station, which offers superfast rail links.

This investment should make the new look Colonnades an attractive proposition for financial and business services firms looking for a town centre location.

The shopping centre walkthrough, which is also set for improvements, will become an important gateway linking the town centre to the Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ).

Now approved, the revamp of Colonnades will start in the autumn and be complete by early summer next year.

A Civic and Cultural Quarter scheme was also approved by Cabinet. The £1.2m project, supported by SCRIF funding, will see further public realm improvements in the Waterdale area to attract investors to the area.

The public space enhancements will complement the Savoy six screen cinema and restaurant complex, coordinated by the council’s CCQ development partner Muse Developments.

This development is next to the Cast performance venue and as a result will help frame Sir Nigel Gresley Square. The development is due for completion towards the end of 2017.

Cllr Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor of Doncaster, said: “Jobs and growth are a top priority, particularly in our town centre, and these two schemes will certainly deliver on that front.

“With its superb location, Colonnades has tremendous potential to become a modern business and public sector hub while the infrastructure improvements in the Civic and Cultural Quarter will help deliver new developments including another complementary leisure attraction in the shape of a new cinema complex.

“Both schemes see additional investment in our town centre which encourages more people to visit and work here and this has to be great news for our economy.

“These two schemes will contribute to the Doncaster Story which has just been launched to celebrate all that is great about our wonderful town and showcases these to investors, developers and companies looking to expand or relocate.

“We have grand plans for Doncaster and through our carefully coordinated approach we are delivering major projects across the borough which are already making a huge difference and will continue to do so in the future.”

SCRIF is a framework of funding streams to deliver essential strategic infrastructure to increase economic growth and jobs in the Sheffield City Region.

SCRIF is contributing £2.28m to the Colonnades project with £1.05m coming from the council’s capital funding pot. This is money that cannot be spent on day-to-day services. The £1.22m CCQ infrastructure project will receive £640k from SCRIF with the balance coming from Muse Developments.

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