Support urged for city businesses as £355m roadworks face year-long delay

Highways officials have warned major roadworks in Hull city centre have been delayed by a year due to “extremely challenging ground conditions”.

Business leaders have responded by calling for £1m to be set aside to help firms affected by the delay.

Castle Street is currently undergoing a £355m redesign, which involves lowering the level of the A63 to create an underpass.

Work had been due to be completed by April 2025, but highways bosses said they were now instead working towards a completion date of spring 2026.

A National Highways spokesman said: “Although we have continued to work at pace, it has unfortunately become clear that these unexpected conditions mean that we will not be able to hit our previously published open to traffic date of spring 2025.

“We recognise the disruption caused since the scheme began, and we’re extremely grateful to everyone for their patience.”

The news has been met with dismay from business leaders.

Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, chief executive, Dr Ian Kelly, said: “This is not the Christmas present we wanted from National Highways and this terrible news will put Hull’s business community under even more pressure at a time when many are struggling to cope with increased trading costs after the recent Budget.

“The Chamber is therefore calling for National Highways to set aside a £1m fund to help local businesses survive for the further 12 months this work is now going to take after all the delays and damage caused to the businesses community in Hull city centre.

“We thought after all these years the end was in sight, and now we have to endure another 12 months of traffic chaos which deters people from coming into the city centre.

“I’m not sure what they expected to find when they dug down below the water table, but surely after all the years of planning, there shouldn’t have been any surprises.”

Kathryn Shillito, executive director of Hull’s Business Improvement District, (HullBID), said: “Although we recognise the works are essential, we are disheartened to learn that completion is now scheduled for spring 2026.

“Hull city centre businesses have been both accepting and patient but in exceptionally challenging times, this news comes as another blow.

“HullBID has tried its utmost to entice visitors into the city with events and marketing campaigns, whilst the businesses have gone the extra mile to keep their custom.

“Financial support would be welcomed to continue pushing out the message that Hull city centre is very much open for business.”

Jim Harris, the centre manager for St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, and HullBID chair, added: “This is very disappointing news.

“City centre businesses have been heavily affected by the Castle Street scheme, and a lot of hard work has been done to mitigate the issues, but we could really do with some financial help if this is going to continue for yet another year.”

Close