Plans unveiled for £3.5m ‘cultural hub’ development at Hull’s Fruit Market

Hull City Council has received plans for a £3.5m redevelopment as part of the latest investment in Hull’s Fruit Market quarter.

A planning application has been submitted for the repair and redevelopment of 61-63 Humber Street which houses Fruit, including the creation of a purpose-built and sound-proofed multi-arts performance venue, accommodated partly within and also extending to the rear of the building.

The plans comprise fit-for-purpose facilities as part of a completely refurbished and regenerated building which will become a hub for the creative arts.

The £1.2m proposals for 61-63 Humber Street involve the restoration and reconfiguration of all three storeys of the building, with a new gallery and café featuring a glazed frontage onto Humber Street and the unused upper floors repaired and refurbished to create flexible studios and work spaces.

The first floor will also feature a roof terrace above the performance venue.

The planning application includes a further £2.3m of development at the rear of 61-63 Humber Street. This will involve the creation of a paved outdoor performance area within a courtyard at the rear of Fruit, with the last remaining smoke house in the centre of Hull brought back into use as a pop-up bar/street food venue.

The courtyard would be “wrapped” by construction of a new building fronting onto Wellington Street with six ground-floor glazed units for shops, offices and workshops and 11 city living apartments over three further floors from the first floor.

The plans have been submitted by ID Architecture on behalf of the Fruit Market LLP, the joint venture formed by regeneration company Wykeland Group, housebuilder Beal Homes and Hull City Council, to deliver the regeneration of the Fruit Market.

Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland, speaking on behalf of Wykeland Beal, said: “61-63 Humber Street is a key building in the heart of the Fruit Market and has become established as the home of Fruit, which has played such an important part in Hull’s cultural renaissance.

“This development will put Fruit on a sustainable footing with significantly improved facilities, enabling the staging of a wider range of events, within a completely refurbished and restored building.

“The upper floors will become flexible workspaces for artistic and creative entrepreneurs and small businesses, which will enhance Hull’s growing reputation as a centre for the creative industries and support the growth of employment within the cultural sector.

“The related development of the courtyard and the building facing Wellington Street will add further activity and energy, consistent with our vision for the regeneration of the Fruit Market as a unique, vibrant and creative quarter where people live, work and play.”

In preparation for the proposed development, Wykeland Beal has already carried out work over the summer to prevent further deterioration of 61-63 Humber Street, including replacing all the roofs, installing new power supplies and removing asbestos

Wykeland Beal has also consulted with Hull City Council, the University of Hull and a wide range of cultural and artistic organisations, including Hull UK City of Culture 2017, Arts Council England, Creative and Cultural, Hull School of Art and Design and Freedom Festival, to develop a model for the creative work spaces on the upper floors of 61-63 Humber Street.

Councillor Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council and chair of the Fruit Market LLP, added: “The redevelopment of the Fruit Market has been a priority for the council for many years and it’s great to see these plans to further enhance this special place submitted.

“The area has been one of the biggest success stories of 2017 and, if approved, this build would offer a whole new dimension to the cultural hub. Thanks must again go to the Coastal Communities Fund for recognising this fantastic opportunity.”

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