The East bank of the river has long been a mess, but now you have your chance to say how it’s put right, reports our dilapidated riverside correspondent Angus Young.
Most of the eastern side of the River Hull between Drypool Bridge and Myton Bridge has been an eyesore for years. Vacant land and empty buildings form an almost continuous view. However, things are about to change.
Plans are currently being drawn up to build around 850 new waterfront homes there together with ground floor commercial units alongside two public parks, plazas and a riverside walkway. Two existing derelict buildings – the former Trinity House buoy shed and the adjacent lock keeper’s cottage last used as part of an emergency night shelter for the homeless – are expected to be refurbished and retained as part of the new development. Being Hull, it’s not going to happen overnight.
At the moment, it’s envisaged that building work will be phased over four stages with the first construction expected to start in 2027. However, the East Bank Urban Village has the potential to not only breathe new life into the immediate area but also bring some much-needed quality modern residential design into the city centre on a scale not really seen since the re-development of Victoria Dock in the early 1990s.
The plans are at an early stage but the development partners – Hull City Council and ECF (a public-private regeneration and investment partnership which includes Homes England, Legal & General and developer Muse – have signed on a joint deal to deliver the scheme over the next 15 years.
As a first step, they have launched a public consultation to see what people think of their initial concept designs and ideas for the site. There’s an online questionnaire to complete at www.eastbank-hull.com and an exhibition being staged at Trinity Market on Thursday, October 2, between 4pm and 8pm. As well as the concept designs, visitors to the exhibition will be able to chat with representatives from the partnership and give their own views on the project.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for economic renewal, housing and organisational development at the council, said: “East Bank Urban Village is one of Hull’s largest ever regeneration projects and will act as a catalyst for further urban renewal and help to increase investor confidence in the city with all the economic benefits that will arise. The development is the future of Hull’s city centre living and so it’s important that our residents and other stakeholders and interested parties share their thoughts to help shape it.”
Raife Gale, senior development manager at ECF, said: “This is a project that will have a hugely positive impact on Hull, delivering much needed new homes in the heart of the city centre while breathing new life into a site with a rich heritage and maritime past. We want to ensure the local community are involved in shaping what our plans look like, so we are looking forward to working closely with them as we progress the first stage of this important new development.”
So get yourself along to Trinity Market and have your say or fill in the questionnaire. The deadline for online comments is Wednesday, October 8.