Contractor and partner sought for 3,500-seat Hull Venue

THE proposed 3,500-seat Hull Venue has moved closer after plans were backed by city councillors.

Hull City Council is to now start the process of selecting a contractor to build it and a partner to run the facility.

The venue will be located on Princes Quay, and the council has committed £36.2m towards the cost of building the complex on the site. 

It has been projected that the venue would attract 240,000 visitors spending £13.8m at the site which has 2,000 sq m of exhibition space.

The owners of the Princes Quay shopping centre are “committed” to delivering new retail facilities and a hotel as part of the overall scheme.

Cllr Steven Bayes, who is the portfolio holder within the cabinet for visitor destination, said: “A high-quality, purpose-built events and conference centre is absolutely essential to making Hull a top visitor destination and to secure a long-term legacy from our year as UK City of Culture. 

“Most importantly, it will deliver 500 long-term jobs for our local workforce and young people, which is part of the legacy that we want to deliver for Hull and the economic future we need.” 

Claire Suggit, centre manager of Princes Quay, said: “This is fantastic news for the City and one that we are delighted the partnership between ourselves and Wykeland has played a part in bringing to this stage. 

“The partnership is continuing to work jointly with Hull City Council over the wider regeneration of this important part of the City Centre. We are very excited about the development of the Venue and the benefits and additional footfall it will bring to Princes Quay.”

The council expects design concepts to be completed and contractors appointed by the end of this year, with the venue scheduled to open in 2018.