On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal Board. It sets out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.
Skegness Town Deal
Over £3.3 million will be invested at Skegness railway station funded by the Government Town Deal Fund. EMR will work with Connected Coast Town Deal, which oversees the Town Deal projects and Towns Fund investment in Skegness, as well as East Lindsey District Council and Network Rail, to completely reconfigure the layout of Skegness station, improving passenger flow around the station.
Passengers can expect a number of enhanced facilities, including a standard accessible toilet and a changing places toilet, two new start-up offices, a community café and retail provisions. There will be improved access routes into the station for both pedestrians and vehicles, offering integration with the surrounding community.
The development, which is due to start later this year, will include full mechanical and electrical enhancements, with upgraded heating, ventilation, IT and security systems that will deliver a more sustainable and modern provision for customers travelling through the station.
Outside of the station, there will be an improved configuration of the Taxi / drop off area, a new pedestrianised route into the station, improved access to the adjacent bus station, installation of a new waste and storage compound, an external seating area for community café, reconfiguration of concourse and cycle facilities.
Skegness project update
We continue to make a good progress in the redevelopment at Skegness station. The enabling works and Phase 1 works have been focused on the front building at the station called ‘Red Star Building’. New beam & block floors have been fitted on new support walls and foundations throughout the building. New underfloor ventilation has been installed. Numerous structural repairs continue to be required and instructions issued to remediate, which is in progress. The new lighting to the concourse area has started in March.
The work is being carried out by the principal contractor Taziker ltd and managed by EMR. Throughout the duration of the works, the station will be open as normal to any customers wishing to travel to / from Skegness railway station.
Connected Coast have made some films regarding the progress and projects in Skegness and Mablethorpe. Please follow this link to learn more about the progress for Skegness Railway station with a short film from Lauren Smith and the Connected Coast team. View the Connected Coast video below.
The publication of Connected Coast annual reports for 2023. You can read the Connected Coast annual report for 2023 here.
Boston Town Deal
Over £2.8 million will be invested at Boston railway station funded by the Government Town Deal Fund through Boston Town Deal, The Railway Heritage Trust and EMR.
The significant development will transform Boston railway station, offering an improved customer experience to all station visitors in the future. As the gateway to the town, these improvements will offer integration with the community and transform the experience for customers who use the station. Passengers can expect a new community café and bookable community space, improved toilet facilities, two new start-up offices and customer waiting facilities.
There will also be external improvements including improved wayfinding and accessibility throughout. The development will include mechanical and electrical enhancements, with upgraded heating, ventilation, IT and security systems that will deliver a more sustainable and modern provision for customers travelling through the station.
The plans for the railway station align with the Levelling Up funding and the development of Rosegarth Square which will revitalise and repurpose the area between the River Witham and the bus station, a main gateway into the town.
Boston project update
We continue to make good progress in the redevelopment at Boston station. The construction team have stripped back the room which will be the new community café area and Café storage room. The new community cafe is being fitted-out as the temporary Ticket Office for the first few months during phase 2 works. This allows phase 2 works to redevelop the new permanent ticket office. The construction team have installed air conditioning and 1st fixed mechanical and electrical installations. The walls have been plastered and painted with the new internal walls to form the temp. ticket office. The construction team have started works on the plant room by added a new internal wall and are in the process of fitting out this area.
The work is being carried out by the principal contractor Taziker Industrial ltd and managed by EMR. Throughout the duration of the works, the station will be open as normal to all customers wishing to travel to / from Boston railway station.
Boston Town Deal has made a film with East Midlands Railway to showcase Boston Railway Station project and the progress, view the video below.