A major transformation of Scarborough's vacant Brunswick Centre into a cinema and leisure complex is a step closer after North Yorkshire Council approved it's part of a £18.5 million public funding package.
A major transformation of Scarborough's vacant Brunswick Centre into a cinema and leisure destination has moved a step closer as North Yorkshire Council approved its part of an £18.5 million public funding package.
The multimillion-pound plan aims to breathe new life into the town centre site, creating a six-screen cinema, a family-focused indoor leisure attraction, food and drink outlets, and two major retail units.
An £8 million council loan and £10.5 million in public grant funding have been approved in principle to support the project.
Deputy leader of North Yorkshire Council, Councillor Mark Crane, described the project as a major opportunity for the town. He said:
"This is a truly unique opportunity for Scarborough and will cause people to spend more money and time in the town year-round."
Developers Scarborough Group International estimate the scheme could attract around 850,000 visits a year, generate more than £45 million of annual spending, and support almost 600 jobs.
Despite broad support for the redevelopment, concerns have been raised over the exposure of taxpayer money and whether the projected benefits will materialise. The scheme also still requires a new planning application after a previous consent lapsed.
Councillor Rich Maw questioned what would happen if the project failed, noting that the multimillion-pound loan and grant were for a scheme without planning permission. He said:
"We all want the Brunswick redeveloped and we need the investment and jobs. We’ve heard the promise of 850,000 visitors and £45 million of spending and that would be a fantastic result for Scarborough."
Corporate director Nic Harne confirmed that the economic forecasts would be revisited and subjected to third-party verification before later funding stages could proceed.
Questions were also raised about the level of public support involved in the project.
Councillor Liz Colling noted that while all of Scarborough wanted to see the site redeveloped, she remained concerned about the proportion of funding coming from the public purse. She also asked when the cinema operator and major retail tenant would be revealed.
In response, a council officer confirmed that public funding accounted for around 25 per cent of the overall scheme cost. They added that agreements with a cinema operator and a major retailer would need to be in place before further tranches of funding were released.
The financial risk prompted comparisons to the Alpamare water park, which opened in 2016 with the help of a £9 million loan. After the developer went into administration in 2023, the council took possession of the site and wrote off most of the loan.
Councillor Tom Seston said he wanted the Brunswick project to succeed but described it as a bit of a gamble.
However, Councillor Heather Phillips suggested the redevelopment could help tackle long-standing problems in Scarborough’s evening economy, while also creating hundreds of jobs for younger residents. She said:
"Scarborough is not currently a fun, safe space in the evening; that’s how it feels."
Councillor Simon Myers argued that public intervention was necessary because the market had been unable to redevelop the site on its own, describing the vacant centre as a drag on the local economy. He said:
"The reason we have to get involved is that the market won’t fix it."
Despite efforts to reduce the financial exposure, up to £1 million of the initial council contribution would be at risk if the project did not progress beyond the pre-construction stage.
Asked what would happen if the scheme failed entirely, Councillor Crane confirmed that up to £8 million could potentially be at risk, depending on the stage of the development.
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