Fruit Market regeneration project secures funding

A PROJECT to regenerate part of Hull’s historic Fruit Market and see empty warehouses transformed is set to go ahead.

Hull City Council has worked in partnership with Hull-based developers Wykeland and housebuilders Beal Homes, who have formed a joint venture company Wykeland Beal to secure £800,000 of funding from the Coastal Communities Big Lottery Fund. The funding is for the refurbishment of 1,633 sq m of empty former warehouse space on Humber Street in the Fruit Market. The council will provide match funding for this scheme that will deliver former warehouse conversions, extensions, refurbishment and change of use.

The £1.493m project will see ten warehouses be transformed into eight units of space for galleries, offices, digital, grow on spaces and independent retail/restaurant/café uses.

Councillor Steven Bayes, portfolio holder for Visitor Destination and City of Culture said:“We’re delighted to have secured this funding from the Coastal Communities Fund and the council have committed to co-invest in developing creative industries by match funding the bid.

“This is a sign of the growing recognition of the Fruit Market as an area of arts, culture, business and innovation within the wider region”.

A spokesperson on behalf of Wykeland Beal added: “We have worked in partnership with the Council to secure this funding. It’s an exciting time for Hull’s Fruit Market to become a vibrant cultural, creative, visitor and business location in the heart of the City. 

“We are delighted that today’s announcement will help support and deliver the long term vision for the Fruit Market.”