The firm has got the green light from North Lincolnshire Council to start excavation and engineering works early next year on land north of Burringham Road at Ashby Parkland.

North Lincolnshire Council has secured £2m funding from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership to build the first lake, which will be surrounded by residential areas and include a beach, running and cycle tracks, a water sports centre and a water-based retail area.

The development will provide six waterside villages and over 6,000 homes by 2028. 

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is an exciting time for North Lincolnshire with the regeneration of Scunthorpe as the Lincolnshire Lakes project gets underway with the building of the first lake.

“This is the first of five lakes that form part of the scheme and provide a beautiful backdrop for the six villages to follow.

“A key part of the Lincolnshire Lakes project is the integrated flood defences and drainage for the area and this lake forms part of that. The Government has invested £13m in the flood defences for the Trent and Isle villages and Lincolnshire Lakes; this project will transform our area so it is important that we get it right.”