Plans unveiled for £80m Fruit Market development
THE joint venture behind the £80m redevelopment of Hull’s historic Fruit Market have unveiled plans for the site.
Wykeland Group and Beal Homes, who have collaborated on the development said it will be a cultural and creative centre, an “urban village” bringing shops, galleries and restaurants to the area, taking centre stage at Hull’s year as City of Culture in 2017.
The joint venture, dubbed Wykeland Beal, is working in collaboration with Hull City Council on the site.
Regeneration work already underway includes a £1.5m public space as well as 20,000 sq ft of retail space on Humber Street.
One of the units on the site has already been taken up by Butler Whites, a new venture from local hospitality entrepreneurs.
The project also includes 109 homes, with planning due to be submitted next month.
Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland, which is itself based in the Fruit Market, said: “With unprecedented investment in Hull and the City of Culture year just months away, Hull really is on the up.
“We’re setting out our vision today, but it’s important to stress this is being delivered here and now. In fact, almost £20m of development has been completed or is under construction within the Fruit Market area.
“This unique and historic area of the city will become a welcoming and friendly place to live, a creative and entrepreneurial area to work and a vibrant destination to visit, for local people and tourists alike.
“We’re hugely excited about realising the Fruit Market’s potential and we’re really keen for the existing commercial and cultural community in the area to work with us to create something extraordinary.”
The development follows the opening of Wykeland’s £15m @TheDock site, including the Centre for Digital Innovation, the C4Di, as well as a 350-seat amphitheatre.
