Scarborough Brunswick redevelopment risks £1m council loss

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

Taxpayers could lose up to £1 million if Scarborough's Brunswick Centre redevelopment does not progress beyond initial planning stages.

North Yorkshire Council is considering an £18.5 million public sector funding package to transform Scarborough's former Brunswick Centre into a town centre regeneration scheme featuring a multiplex cinema, leisure attractions, restaurants and retail units.

An initial £3 million tranche of funding would be used for design work, internal demolition, planning preparations and testing the project's financial viability. The council's report warns that up to £1 million of the authority's funding would become irrecoverable if the scheme does not proceed beyond the pre-construction phase. The £8 million contribution from North Yorkshire Council is intended to be repaid, alongside £7 million from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and £3.5 million from the Pride in Place programme.

Council officers said safeguards are being built into the process, including phased funding releases, independent viability assessments and a formal gateway review before any decision is made to move into the construction stage. The report notes that the Brunswick redevelopment is 'not viable without public sector intervention' and requires both grant funding and public sector loans to proceed.

How it is being reported

• Brunswick redevelopment package exposes council to up to £1m riskTAXPAYERS could lose up to £1 million if plans to transform Scarborough’s former Brunswick Centre do not progress beyond the initial development stage, the council has warned.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 22 Oct, 16:00
• Brunswick redevelopment package exposes council to up to £1m riskTAXPAYERS could lose up to £1 million if plans to transform Scarborough’s former Brunswick Centre do not progress beyond the initial development stage, the council has warned.The Press (York) · 22 Oct, 16:00

In this story: North Yorkshire Council · Scarborough · York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

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