Photo: Heath Samples, Chair of the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, Alison Hume MP, Mayor David Skaith and David Wells from Scarborough Group International.
A redeveloped Brunswick Centre will be at the heart of a multi-million redevelopment of Scarborough after a £7 million funding package was agreed.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority members approved the investment at a cabinet meeting at Scarborough's Town Hall today (Friday, November 6).
The Combined Authority funding is backed by a North Yorkshire Council loan of £8 million and Pride in Place funding of £3.5 million, taking the total public funding for the project up to a total of £18.5 million.
It means that the project can move forward with a full business case before it goes through the planning system, before construction can start.
The transformation of the Brunswick Centre is expected to act as a catalyst for a wider regeneration of the town centre, while the centre itself is set to create more than 400 jobs when it opens and another 160 during the construction phase.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"I'm backing Scarborough's ambition through our new Mayoral Development Zone. The town has so much to offer, with millions of visitors every year, good transport links and top employers, with streamlined public and private investment we know we can go so much further for residents and businesses alike.
"We are restoring pride in the heart of this iconic town. Bringing the Brunswick Centre back into use is the first landmark step for our collective plan for Scarborough Town Centre. This landmark site will rid the high street of another empty eyesore and create new jobs and opportunities for Scarborough's residents."
The funding for the Brunswick redevelopment will come in two stages to protect public finances. An initial £1 million will be released to support pre-development activities and the submission of a new planning application. The next £6 million has been ringfenced for when the project reaches the construction phase, subject to a full business case.
Members also approved at cabinet a £1 million grant for public realm and active travel improvements along Westborough and Vernon Road, to better connect Scarborough Railway Station with the town centre.
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, who is a member of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said:
“We have identified our coastal areas as some of the most important locations for investment. Today’s decision to establish the Mayoral Development Zone will bring benefits for the whole of Scarborough and it is also a big step towards redeveloping the Brunswick Centre.
“The aim is to create a new town centre attraction and allow Scarborough to become a year-round destination, which is what our residents and businesses have told us is important to them.
“Working in partnership offers everyone the best chance of kick-starting investment and development that provides lasting economic benefits across the local community and the wider county.”
David Wells, Development Director at Scarborough Group International, said:
"This is the town that gave our company its name, so getting SQ1 right matters to us more than most. Schemes like this only happen when the public and private sectors work together, and we're grateful to our partners for the confidence they've shown in it.
"With the Mayoral Development Zone and the improvements planned along Westborough, there's real momentum building in Scarborough, and SQ1 can be at the heart of it. Our focus now is on getting the design right and bringing forward a new planning application."
Heath Samples, Chair of the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, said:
“This is fantastic news for Scarborough and a major step towards bringing the Brunswick Centre back to life.
“Our Board’s decision to commit £3.5 million of Pride in Place funding was the catalyst for unlocking this wider investment, and I’m delighted that the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Council has backed our ambition.
“This demonstrates what can be achieved when local communities, public authorities and private investors work together.
“It’s about more than regenerating a building. It’s about creating jobs, attracting investment and delivering a town centre that Scarborough residents can once again be proud of. There’s still work ahead, but this is a hugely positive step for our town.”
The launch of Scarborough's Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) forms part of a wider strategy to accelerate growth and unlock major housing and commercial sites.
Scarborough is one of three targeted Mayoral Development Zones formally established across the region, alongside:
- York: Supporting York Central to bring forward thousands of new homes, commercial workspaces, and a world-class innovation hub.
- Selby: Focused on unlocking strategic industrial, energy, and employment sites to capitalise on the region’s growing clean energy and manufacturing sectors.
Together, the three MDZs are backed by a £10 million Mayoral Regeneration Fund, giving local leaders devolved tools to coordinate transport, planning, housing, and skills to deliver growth.