Major investment boost for former Burton building

Credit: Neil Holmes Photography

Two grants have been awarded to Wykeland Group Ltd to help restore and bring back into use the former Burton building, at 34-35 Whitefriargate in Hull city centre.

As one of Hull’s most significant Art Deco buildings, it will benefit from funding from Hull City Council’s Levelling Up Funding grant scheme and the Whitefriargate High Street Heritage Action Zone, with full planning permission now approved.

With an investment of £750,000 from the Levelling Up Fund and £450,000 from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone, the total project will cost about £2.4m and aims to create up to 68 local jobs once the works are completed on the Grade II heritage listed building frontages.

Located at the entrance to the Old Town on Whitefriargate, next to Beverley Gate and opposite the Maritime Museum building, the refurbishments will make the spaces suitable for either a retail or restaurant unit on the ground floor and redevelop the second and third floors into office spaces.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “These grants to Wykeland will help repurpose and regenerate what is a magnificent, but currently under-used building in our city centre.

“The Levelling Up Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone have already benefited many buildings and businesses in Hull and this is another example of the regeneration work it helps to unlock.”

Trevor Mitchell, director for the North at Historic England, said: “We’re really pleased to be helping to fund the restoration of the former Burton department store through the High Street Heritage Action Zone.

“The Grade II listed building is a striking and glamorous landmark on Whitefriargate and its rejuvenation will play an important role in transforming the historic street into a thriving and attractive place to live, work, shop and enjoy leisure time.”

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