Hull City Council has been shortlisted in the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) awards 2019 in three categories - Driving Growth, Council of the Year and in the Public/Private Partnership category for its work with Wykeland Beal on the transformation of the Fruit Market.

Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Stephen Brady, said: "The Council being shortlisted for these coveted national awards is welcome independent recognition of the very considerable progress that we have achieved, working with businesses and other partners, in driving growth in the local economy and creating record numbers of new jobs. 

"Our City Plan is working and the benefits are being felt not only in Hull, but in the wider Humber region. We are committed to evolving to ensure we build a sustainable economy and continue to drive growth.”

Matt Jukes, Chief Executive of Hull City Council, said: “Being shortlisted for Council of the Year is wonderful news. I hope the people of Hull are proud of the progress we have made as a city in recent years.

“Hull has achieved many of its ambitions with sustained improvements that defied expectations and challenged perceptions. We welcomed the world to our City of Culture year as a proud, confident and outward-looking city that has been transformed by investment in people, place and culture.”

Throughout 2017/18, the city has benefitted from increases in employment, further record investment, built more new homes, experienced increased pride and the highest ever numbers of people visiting the city’s museums, arts and leisure facilities.

In 2013 the council partnered with Wykeland Beal, forming the Fruit Market LLP, to deliver an £80m urban regeneration project in the Fruit Market. It is the most significant project of its kind the city has ever seen.

Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration, said: “This is fantastic news for the council, Wykeland Beal and the Fruit Market. Our partnership with Wykeland Beal has helped transform the Fruit Market into an incredible place to live, work and play.

“The LGC Awards is the biggest celebration of excellence in local government so to be shortlisted is fantastic recognition for all the hard work and effort that has been put in.”

Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, speaking on behalf of Wykeland Beal, said: “The ongoing transformation of the Fruit Market demonstrates the value delivered to communities and the economy by true partnership between the public and private sectors.

“Wykeland Beal is delighted to be working with Hull City Council to deliver one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in the North of England and pleased that it is being recognised nationally as a prime example of successful inner city renewal.”

The LGC announcement comes as welcome news that Hull has been named as the third most improved UK city as a place to live and work, and as Trinity Market and Hepworths Arcade are nominated in the Great British High Street awards.

The Local Government Chronicle awards are the biggest and most prestigious celebration of excellence in local government. Hull City Council will join other Local Authorities at the awards ceremony in London on 19 March 2019, where the winners will be announced.