The original date for completion of the £2.2 million project being carried out by South Kesteven District Council was the spring of this year but work has been held up by the weather. It has involved the demolition of the old Masonic lodge and the conversion of the early 19th century grain warehouse in Burghley Street into fourteen apartments and the addition of an arcade of seven shops.

The current situation was summer up this week by the council’s property development manager, Neil Cucksey: "We are behind where we would have liked to be at this stage", he said, "but despite what has been a great summer weather wise we were hampered at the start of the year between January and May when we had poor weather and freezing conditions. However, this delay has not increased the costs and we are still within budget.

"We are buoyed further by the fact that the four apartments within Wherry's Mill are sold subject to contract, we have active interest in all of the new build apartments to either buy or rent and six of the seven retail units have interest.”

He added: “What is important to remember is that this development has preserved a historic landmark in the town for future generations and will provide high quality town centre living accommodation and purpose built retail units just off the main street, as well as a landscaped area primed for development at a later stage and an improved roadway. All of the properties will be complete by the end of this month with external works including landscaping and work on the road due to be completed in January."

WRITTEN OCTOBER 2013