Hull's Albion Square redevelopment plans approved

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Dec 21, 2021

The move to redevelop down-at-heel city centres continues, with Hull become the latest to be remodelled. The £96 million Albion Square development in its city centre has just been approved by its city council.

Work on the “eco-friendly and environmentally responsible development” will feature a mixture of residential, office and retail space, as well as a large urban park. 
Work is expected to start early next year with the project completed by 2026.

The announcement follows on from news earlier this month that Nottingham city centre will also be redesigned and rebuilt as part of a major £500 million plan for a new 400,000 sq ft shopping centre, leisure space and park to replace the 1970s Broadmarsh mall.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, told The BusinessDesk: “Albion Square is a key component in the city’s regeneration.

“The large Albion Square site is an important and prominent location in our city centre, so it’s vital that we see it regenerated.

“This investment is not only crucial to the future success and prosperity of our city, but it’s also the only viable option for the site. In its current, undeveloped state, the site requires continuous and significant costs in order to keep it safe, and is also an obvious eyesore in what should be one of the most historic and impressive parts of our city. The only option, and the best option for Hull, is to regenerate the area."

As part of the regeneration plan, a Three Ships Mural by Alan Boyson, which is currently located on the upper floors of the former BHS Building, will be saved and incorporated into the new development.

Even before the pandemic hit the retail sector, many town and city centres across the UK were damaged by a raft of store closures, including the loss of important anchor department stores including Debenhams, BHS, and John Lewis. 

As part of a wider redevelopment/regeneration programme announced by the government earlier this year, we can expect even more towns and cities to approve major work to ensure their centres continue to remain an essential heartbeat of urban life.