As a place of huge historic value to the Great Grimsby community, there is little wonder that there is a buzz about town as the Kasbah’s website goes live, declaring the area now ‘Open for Business’.
Attention is already drawn to the dock due to the exciting development plans for the former Ice Factory, and the neighbouring Kasbah’s quirky streets and buildings are also ready for a new lease of life.
Developed during the 1870’s, the Kasbah – which is said to be named due to the odd-shaped buildings and narrow alley ways slotted around the all-important railway lines of the day – has been described by Historic England as the most important representation of industrial scale fishing in the UK. Until the 1970’s, the whole area was a hive of activity, packed with ship repairers, supply stores, cold stores, cafes, pubs and fish businesses.
During the last half a century, the Kasbah area went into decline until, in October 2017, it was designated a conservation area and included in the 2018-2023 Greater Grimsby Heritage Action Zone. The Kasbah Steering Group (now the HAZ Steering Group) was created, comprised of landowner Associated British Ports (ABP), North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) and Historic England with the Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust (GGIFT), all working to support the regeneration of this important part of Grimsby.
Funded by the Digital Confidence Fund, through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the new website has been developed in partnership by GGIFT, NELC and ABP. HAZ Officer Stella Jackson said: “This project has provided a great opportunity to articulate a shared vision for the future of the Kasbah. It brings together information about the history, current projects, and future events, all under one umbrella.”
Vicky Hartung, Chair of GGIFT, said: !We are so pleased to be launching the website, which aims to reach businesses, groups and organisations both locally and nationally. There are already a number of businesses established across the Kasbah, some of which have been there for many years and some that are new to the area; you can read about them in the “People” section.”
Businesses either established or currently renovating Kasbah properties include Alfred Enderby, Creative Start, WE1 Group, Tom Taylor & Sons, Ian Salsbury and NELC’s Creative Industries Workspace. GGIFT is also working on the renovation of Peterson’s Smokehouse and the adjacent Fred’s Fish, using grants provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund”s Transforming Places Through Heritage programme.
Head of Policy, Communications & Economic Development for ABP, Dafydd Williams, said: “A great many opportunities exist within the Kasbah for organisations and businesses looking for premises from which to base themselves. The Port of Grimsby is a leading automotive port here in the UK, and a major hub for the offshore wind industry. We hope in time, the Kasbah will attract artisanal food producers, creatives and service based businesses.”
And Cllr. Callum Procter, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Housing and Tourism in North East Lincolnshire said: “Over the last few years in particular, there’s been a lot of work done to bring people together to develop new ideas for the future use of the Kasbah, led by lots of different organisations working in partnership. Lots of proposals are starting to turn into real projects, which will only benefit Grimsby as a whole. I’m really pleased to see the projects and opportunities showcased together to show such an exciting future for the port area.”
The new website showcases what the Kasbah has to offer businesses looking to place themselves at the centre of Grimsby’s industrial history: the fantastic location, incentives and funding, the security that the dock area can provide and the knowledge that they will be playing a part in the preservation of the Kasbah for future generations.
For more information, visit the website.
