Parking spaces will be transformed into outdoor seating/dining areas as part of the regeneration of the Old Town, and Hull City Council’s commitment to supporting the city’s evening economy.

Hull City Council has published a decision record confirming the awarding of a contract to Broxap Limited for the supply and installation of two “parklet” systems, to a value of £70,000, using the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) framework for street furniture.

Parklets provide high-quality street furniture for outdoor hospitality, replacing on-street parking spaces and leaving the pathway clear of obstructions.

The two parklets will be installed within existing parking bays on the southern side of Silver Street. Each will include fixed tables and benches separated by high-level planters for screening. Disabled parking bays will be relocated.

Councillor Rosemary Pantelakis, portfolio holder for culture at Hull City Council, said: “Alfresco dining and drinking is a key part of the vision we have for the revitalisation of Whitefriargate, Silver Street and the Old Town, as well as our continued commitment to the evening economy.

“Parklets are a great way to provide street furniture without creating an obstacle in the footpath, which can be an issue for visually impaired pedestrians or wheelchair users.

“It’s a really exciting time for the Old Town as we continue to transform the area into a vibrant place for people to live, work and play.”

The parklets will be 12m in length and will not exceed the 2m width of the existing bay. The construction will be of hardwood timber in an alloy steel frame and with their modular construction allowing for flexibility in size and location.

Sliding bollards have recently been installed across the Lowgate entry to Silver Street to provide protection for hospitality trade. 

ESPO is one of the country’s largest public sector-owned professional buying networks, covering 120 frameworks and bespoke procurement services. The framework for street furniture products contains a large number of suppliers. 

All relevant suppliers were approached to submit an offer, and Broxap Limited was the only supplier on the framework that could provide the parklet systems.

The work is being part-funded by the Welcome Back Fund, which provides councils across England a share of £56million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support the safe return to high streets and help “build back better” from the pandemic.