Hull City Council is asking for public feedback on plans to transform some of Hull’s most important maritime treasures and places.
The ambitious plans will see the regeneration of the Arctic Corsair, North End Shipyard, Spurn Lightship, Dock Office Chambers and the magnificent Hull Maritime Museum to create an exciting new maritime route that will guide visitors through the heart of the city from Queen Victoria Square to the River Hull.
Jointly funded by the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund – subject to a successful funding bid – the project will mark the start of a new chapter in the city’s journey as a culturally vibrant maritime city.
The ‘story so far’ exhibition will transport visitors to 2022 when the plans will have become a reality. Never-seen-before artists’ and architects’ drawings and computer generated visuals will show how Hull’s outstanding maritime heritage will be protected, preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
If Hull succeeds in securing £13.6m of National Lottery Heritage Fund funding, work to create the major new attraction will begin later this year, delivering a major boost to the plans to build a lasting and sustainable legacy from Hull’s year as UK City of Culture.
Trinity Market will be the first of seven locations across the city to host the travelling roadshow, offering the public the opportunity to see how the restored Arctic Corsair will look in a permanent home to become a new, must-see visitor attraction in a former dock at the North End Shipyard, as well as exciting, transformational plans for the Hull Maritime Museum, making a museum for the future.
Mark Jones MBE, Hull City Council’s Director of Regeneration, said: “These plans show the continuing ambition of the council and its partners to cement Hull into a world-class visitor destination by making the most of its remarkable heritage as an international maritime city. As with our year as UK City of Culture, our aim is to regenerate our city and to use culture and heritage to boost economic prosperity and improve people’s lives right across the city.
“Over the past year, more than 10,000 people have given their ideas and suggestions on how they would like to see their city’s maritime heritage brought to life for all to enjoy. Now, we’d like everyone in the city to give us their views on the detailed plans and to show their support as we prepare to submit our bid for the funding to ensure this exciting project becomes a reality.”
From Thursday 25 April, the ‘story so far’ exhibition will go on public display and the maritime project team will be seeking further comments and feedback to develop the exciting plans further.
The plans are also available in the news section at maritimeHull.co.uk
Hull City Council has committed £10m to the project and in May 2019, a round-two bid for a £13.6m grant will be submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund after successfully securing a £1.34m round-one development grant in June 2017. If successful, work could start in early 2020.
This project alone will bring an additional £2.86m a year into the local economy and attract over 300,000 visitors into the city. Added to the greater offer this project continues the regeneration of the city through its culture and heritage.
The plans continue the work that started in 2013 to transform our city, the legacy of UK City of Culture and also complement ongoing projects that form part of the City Plan, which includes the 12 key sites that offer unique and exciting possibilities for investment and plans for a cruise terminal to be built on the Humber.
Mark Jones continued: “As the key legacy project from Hull’s tenure as UK City of Culture, this project will stand on the shoulders of previous successful projects such as The Bonus Arena, Hull New Theatre and the refurbished Ferens Art Gallery, as well as the significant investment in the city centre’s public realm. They all have made an enormous contribution to driving the city forward to record levels of investment, economic growth, employment and housing completions.”
“The council has shown it can deliver projects of this scale and importance and we are determined to drive forward further regeneration, making Hull a better place to live, learn and work. This investment in our past is an investment in our future.”
The public will have the opportunity to view, comment and speak to council staff on the proposals at Hull Trinity Market until Thursday 2 May as they will be onsite at the exhibition from 10am-3pm daily.
They will then visit the various locations across the city between 10am - 3pm, including:
• Monday 20 May until Thursday 30 May at Princes Quay Shopping Centre
• Friday 31 May until Wednesday 31 July at Hull Maritime Museum, Queen Victoria Square
You can also follow Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City on Twitter @Hullmaritime #HullYMC and on Facebook at Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City, Instagram @Hullmaritime and YouTube.
To coincide with the launch of the plans and to gain support for the round-two bid an emotive film, ‘Born on the Tide’, has been released. It explores Hull’s maritime history as seen through the eyes of different generations, highlighting the community’s deeply held connection to the sea and the world. The short film can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/e3EaGekDRCc
For more information on the project and the wider impacts visit maritimeHull.co.uk
