Wykeland Beal has revealed its vision for Humber Street in Hull’s Fruit Market, the £80m rejuvenation of the city centre’s waterside being led out by Wykeland Group and Beal Homes in partnership with Hull City Council ahead of Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017.
Humber Street will be the retail and leisure focal point of the Fruit Market, containing a variety of retail and leisure units, ranging in size from 400 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft. The independent and artisan businesses will be complemented by a restored public realm, the latter transformed following a £1.5m investment by Hull City Council. The combination will create a distinctive area in the region with a character and atmosphere similar to places such as Seven Dials and Shoreditch in London.
Wykeland Beal is targeting the new units at companies from across the Humber and Yorkshire region, either as start-ups or existing businesses looking to expand. In addition, a series of incubator spaces will be available to help fledgling retail and restaurant ventures to launch and develop, before moving into permanent space on Humber Street as they grow.
As the retail and leisure heart of the Fruit Market, Humber Street will help draw visitors to the area, from residents of Hull to visitors to the city from across the region and beyond. In addition, Humber Street will serve the 70 professional, digital technology businesses already in the Fruit Market, as well as the growing residential population.
Commenting on the launch of the vision for Humber Street, Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, said: “The Fruit Market is an exciting new retail and leisure destination, not just within the context of Hull, but on a regional level. Outside of London, there are very few places that will match its combination of character, vibrancy and the eclectic mix of independent retailers, from fashion businesses to baristas. Demand for the available retail and leisure space is already very strong, with some great local and regional brands already committed to, and starting to open in, the Fruit Market.”
The Fruit Market is a vibrant new destination in Hull and the £80m investment has already achieved a number of significant milestones, such as the opening of @The Dock, which includes the digital and technology hub, the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI), and Stage@The Dock, a 350-seat amphitheatre over a listed dry dock. C4DI is home to around 20 tech businesses and 140 co-workers. The Fruit Market is also home to a number of thriving restaurants and bars, including 1884 and Tapaysa, a new high quality Indian dining experience that opened last month. Furthermore, Wykeland Beal has planning consent for 109 new one-, two- and three-bedroom mews-style town houses. Although the marketing has not yet commenced, Wykeland Beal has already received over 800 enquiries.
Fawley Watson Booth and Scotts are the leasing agent for the retail and leisure element of the Fruit Market.
