WUWM retail markets

Hull's former fruit market is in line for a makeover

Hull's historic former fruit market site is to be given a facelift after £1.6 million was secured to carry out the work.

The project will see the empty warehouses along Humber Street transformed into new galleries, offices and cafés.

The money will come from the Coastal Communities Big Lottery Fund and Hull City Council.

According to the Hull Daily Mail, the authority has worked with Wykeland Beal Ltd to secure £800,000 from the fund for the refurbishment of 1,633sq m of empty warehouse space.

The council will provide match funding for the scheme, which will deliver former warehouse conversions, extensions and refurbishment.

City councillor Steven Bayes, portfolio holder for visitor destination and city of culture, told the Mail: “We’re delighted to have secured this funding from the Coastal Communities Fund and the council has committed to co-invest in developing creative industries by match funding the bid.

“This is a sign of the growing recognition of the fruit market as an area of arts, culture, business and innovation within the wider region.”

A number of planning applications have already been submitted for changing the use of some of the warehouses.

Ten warehouses will transform into eight units of flexible space, although the developments will retain the industrial heritage architecture of the fruit market as a reminder of the area’s history.

The scheme received planning approval on July 2 and the refurbishments are due to be completed by the end of the year.