National Highways investment buoys up maritime regeneration

National Highways, which is carrying out improvements to the A63 at Castle Street, Hull, is contributing over £1m to the city’s maritime regeneration project.

This will see the Spurn Lightship moved to its permanent home at Hull Marina.

The vessel, to be eventually berthed next to the recently built Murdoch’s Connection footbridge, will be fully rejuvenated with improved accessibility and signage, thanks to Hull City Council (HCC), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Government-owned company’s Designated Funds programme.

She is expected to open as a key visitor attraction in spring 2023.

James Leeming, senior project manager for the A63 Castle Street and Murdoch’s Connection major projects at National Highways, said: “Spurn Lightship was temporarily moved while we built our state-of-the-art Murdoch’s Connection footbridge, which is close to Hull marina and will eventually be the lightship’s home.

“It will be exciting to see a vital piece of the city’s 20th century past alongside the A63 Castle Street major work and enhancements to the waterfront which will be accessible for all and fit for the 21st century.”

The lightship, which once guided vessels through one of the world’s treacherous waterways – the Humber estuary – is now temporarily berthed at William Wright Dock and awaits her conservation work to start at Dunston’s shipyard.

Built in 1927, the vessel was moored off Spurn in East Riding of Yorkshire and helped vessels to navigate the approach to the estuary.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to have received this significant funding from National Highways.

“This investment will enable the Hull Maritime project to enhance the Spurn Lightship’s new home on Hull Marina with landscaping and increased access. These features will improve the experience for all our visitors when the lightship reopens in 2023.”

National Highways, formerly Highways England, manages four designated funds, allocated by the Government, to deliver benefits above and beyond building, maintaining and operating England’s strategic roads.