The Story So Far
2-4 Market Place had been a local food store for many years, including Spa, Costcutter and most recently the Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd. It is still known to many as ‘The Old Co-op’. However, this complex set of five interlinked listed buildings was over three floors with numerous corridors and staircases, which were not a good fit for a modern food store.
When the Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd relocated, the property was put up for sale, but there were many challenges for any new owner to finding a viable future use for the buildings. As time went on and the buildings remained vacant, the concern for their future and the impact they were having on the town and the community grew.
In 2016, discussions with the community and key stakeholders began. With the help of Heritage Lincolnshire, a local charity that supports our county’s heritage, a series of public consultation events were delivered and with the community’s help a vision for the buildings, with a broad mixed use, began to be formed.
This is a major capital project requiring £2.4 million of funding for the renovation and the Community Share Offer is the final investment. £1.96 million has already been secured through grants from The national Lottery Heritage Fund, The Architectural Heritage Fund, loan finance facilitated by Caistor Town Council, West Lindsey District Council and a range of other small grants. A community share offer will enable us to raise the final £350,000 needed to start work in Autumn 2022.
