UK: The historic and irreplaceable refrigeration equipment rusting within the Grimsby Ice Factory could provide the centrepiece of a £12m development of the currently derelict building.
Plans for the future of the listed building, which would preserve the four 80-year -old J&E Hall compressors and much of the remaining antique ice-making equipment, were revealed by The Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust (GGIFT) on Friday.
The proposed development would include a cinema, art gallery, micro-brewery, restaurant and retail units and place the compressor house in the 1900 building at the centre of the Hertitage Interpretation Centre. From there, visitors would be taken on guided tours of the rest of the building in order to understand the ice-making process from beginning to end.
Other equipment would also be preserved within the structure. A function room/conference space will occupy one of the second floor tank rooms, covering 620m2 with full access to catering facilities. The proposed art gallery will occupy two of the remaining four tank rooms and offer an area of 950m2, equivalent to the Turner Contemporary in Margate. The tank room machinery will remain intact, and visitors will be able to read the entire space as part of the ice-making process.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be around £12m. This includes major repairs to the listed building and the necessary works to be able to let specific areas to the preferred operators. The aim is for the capital work to be 100% grant-funded so that the project does not have to make burdensome loan repayments when it is operating.
GGIFT says its final vision for the Grimsby Ice Factory achieves the preservation of the building and the machinery contained within it, for present and future generations; the establishment of an international art gallery to benefit the community by increasing the cultural offer, and bringing visitors to the area; and the provision of various leisure, commercial, and dining opportunities, to answer demonstrated needs within the region.
The next phase will be project development, for which GGIFT will apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Phase 1 funding.