Hull City Council leader Daren Hale said progress on the stalled scheme was about to pick up pace
Housing developers are eagerly waiting to be part of a proposed £130m project in Hull city centre.
That’s according to Hull City Council leader Daren Hale, who has revealed a new planning application of the Albion Square development is expected to be submitted before the end of the year.
Speaking about a new five-year economic strategy for Hull, he said progress on the stalled scheme was about to pick up pace.
Along with Whitefriargate, Queens Gardens and the Maritime City project, it is regarded as one of the key sites in the city centre where long-awaited regeneration is planned over that five-year period.
The council was forced back to the drawing board following the decision in 2019 by Historic England to award Grade II listed status to the Three Ships mosaic on the front of the empty former department store building.
Initially, the authority had secured an initial outline approval for a mixed-used retail, housing and leisure scheme along with a new multi-storey car park at the site overlooking King Edward Square.
Progress has slowed since then due to the pandemic and further detailed survey work on the huge 1960s artwork. The council has committed extra funding to keep the existing Hull Arena in Kingston Street open longer ahead of an eventual new ice rink being built within Albion Square.
Cllr Hale said: The aim is to get the new planning application in before the end of the year for a mixed-use development. It will still include housing and a leisure offer because we are very keen for that to happen in that location.
He said: I have to say we know housing developers are champing at the bit to get onboard with us which is very encouraging.
