3 March 2026

The major restoration and redevelopment of the historic Great Grimsby Ice Factory site will see it become a new hub for the UK’s offshore wind, green maritime and renewable energy industry, with the scheme’s initial elements recently securing planning approval from North East Lincolnshire Council.

Built in 1900, the ‘at risk’ Grade-II listed buildings in Grimsby Docks originally supplied crushed ice for the town’s thriving fishing fleet. At its peak in the 1950s, up to 1,200 tonnes of ice a day left the facility, before the industry went into decline and the factory shut its gates. Now, developer Tom Shutes is set to breathe new life into this maritime gem through ambitious redevelopment plans.

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Centred around a major renovation of the derelict Ice Factory, the Waugh Thistleton Architects-designed scheme will incorporate a 1,000-seat events venue, 56,000 sq ft of office space and a research and development area for offshore renewables. Elsewhere, a newly built 161-bed Kasbah Hilton Hotel will also be incorporated within the site.

Following years of underinvestment, this significant redevelopment will help drive widespread regeneration across the Grimsby Docks area, with the scheme aiming to create 600 new jobs. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Norman Lamont, praised the plans in a recent statement, saying: “I feel this would be a very valuable addition to an area right for redevelopment and regeneration.”

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Working closely with the project team, Waterman’s structural and civil engineering experts supported the scheme throughout the planning process, helping unlock the site’s potential through a series of sensitive design interventions. To maximise available floor space, the south building will be extended to incorporate a new entrance, whilst two new first-floor bridges will enable access between the two buildings.

Focussing on the sympathetic restoration of original features, our team developed the scheme’s conservation strategy, liaising with Historic England to ensure their concerns and requirements were addressed. This led to the retention of the historic facades and ice compressor room, whilst the boiler house will be repurposed to provide food and drinks facilities.

With planning permission now in place for the initial elements, our experts have also supported Shutes’ wider vision for the remainder of the site. This has seen us provide advice on a range of speculative options including a new floating solar array, the repurposing of Henderson Jetty and the potential addition of light industrial and commercial units along Fish Docks.

Huseyin Hussein
“
Our team has relished the opportunity to breathe new life into the Great Grimsby Ice Factory, using targeted engineering to realise its potential. This remarkable site was once a cornerstone of the town’s world-famous fishing and ice-making industry and is now set to become a centre for the UK renewable energy sector, so it’s a privilege to have supported Tom Shutes’ vision for delivering a thriving future for such an important site.

Huseyin Hussein
Waterman’s Director for Structures