In 1972 a team of archaeologists discovered the remains of an Iron Age settlement in Lincoln dating back to 1 BC. The size of the original town is unknown because much of it is buried beneath Roman and medieval ruins as well as the modern city we see today. As this discovery shows, Lincoln has a long and fascinating history.
The city is also notable for its incredible architecture. Besides the famous castle and cathedral, of the most notable is the Corn Exchange, which is currently the focus of a £12 million development plan and could be regenerated in the coming years if permission is granted.
The plan is to transform the centre of Lincoln with the creation of the Cornhill Quarter, a brand new retail development. The plans include renovating the Corn Exchange, properties on Sincil Street and the Central Market Hall, constructing a new car park for shoppers, altering roads in the area and creating a beautifully landscaped area.
If permission is granted, the Corn Exchange will undergo several structural alterations. The biggest of these will be the removal of unsympathetic modern extensions that have been built on to the structure. Designers claim these mar the original building and want to return it back to its original splendour. Their removal would also open views to Sincil Street. Once this is done the property will be split into separate retail outlets to create new shops and restaurants. Elegant frontages and windows will be fitted into existing openings to make shops more welcoming.
The plan was created in February and consultations were held to see if the public and market traders would support the development. An impressive 70% of the public said they would, and traders also backed the plans. The planning application for the Cornhill Quarter is currently only in its first stage. Future phases will also require permission but falling at the first hurdle could derail the project a great deal.
At Denon Construction we are always interested to see new plans for redevelopment works, particularly when they involve structural alterations in city centres. The historic properties in these locations should be protected but there is no reason why they can’t be regenerated and developed for modern use. These projects generally conjure up all kinds of challenges so it is interesting to see how they are tackled.