“The time is now” for businesses to invest in Hull city centre, a leading property figure has claimed.
New homes and apartments have been springing up throughout the city centre in recent years, with many former offices and empty buildings transformed into modern living spaces.
It has been led by the successful transformation and regeneration of Humber Street in Hull’s former Fruit Market, with the development of more than 100 homes and apartments sitting alongside new independent stores, restaurants and galleries.
Now, property agents have said a “ripple effect” into areas in and around Hull’s Old Town could continue the transformation of Hull’s city centre.
Paul White, of Garness Jones, said there has never been a better time for businesses to turn to the city centre.
He said: “We’ve long heard about the decline of Hull city centre but that has been solely on the retail perspective, which is natural when big name stores close and move out.
“However, a lot of work has been done behind the scenes to influence a clear change in how the city centre, its properties and spaces are used and developed going forward.
“There has been a clear change in approach, focused on regeneration of key areas and led by developers who have put people back into the heart of Hull though a mix of new living and office developments.
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“In many ways it has to replicate what has happened in Humber Street and we will see a ripple effect into the Old Town. We need the leisure and entertainment venues, we need the restaurants and we need the offices to serve this new community day and night. “
Mr White’s words came as 45 high-spec apartments are being created in the former Essex House office block, off Alfred Geldar Street, and a further 94 apartments are planned at the former police station in Queens Gardens, forming ‘The Glass House’ development.
A further 58 new flats are also planned as the former Hull City Council offices at Tivoli House, in Paragon Street, is given a new lease of life.
Having seen 30 one and two bedroom apartments in the £6m King William House development rented out within three weeks of being made available, Mr White said the face of Hull city centre was “changing.”
He said: “King William House provides the ideal space for restaurants and large leisure units and it now has a vibrant and growing community to serve.
“We’ve just seen the £12m Castle Street footbridge put into place, a clear visible indication of how the city centre, and particularly the Old Town area, is being better linked to the Fruit Market.
“Hull City Council also deserve great credit as huge investment has been put into improving the city centre, and now it is of course investing a further £1m to support the redevelopment of Whitefriargate,
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“What we are seeing is the changing face of Hull city centre and that is something we are very excited to be playing a part in.”
How to contact Phil Winter and Business Live
Business Live's Hull & East Yorkshire journalist is Phil Winter, also the business editor at the Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live.
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