Plans to create an events space at the Hammonds of Hull building have secured £2m of funding.
The scheme aims to bring the landmark building’s basement, third and fourth floors, which are currently empty, into use. A new roof-top terrace, for the building’s tenants to use, has also been approved. Funding has come from a grant from Hull City Council as well as private capital.
Coun Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s regeneration portfolio holder, said the works would help to unlock the full potential of one of the city centre’s best-known buildings. The announcement comes after a licensing application was lodged to create a bowling and adult games bar on the ground floor, which previously housed the Hammonds of Hull Food Hall.
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The £2m funding for the basement and upper floors includes £1.91m in private funding from Redefine Paragon Square Ltd and £315,000 in levelling up funding. Plans envisage turning these areas into offices and an events space, though few details of the latter proposal are available at this time.
The works will also fund the roof terrace for tenants, which will feature decking, rails and awnings. In total, the works are set to cost around £2.23m and bring about 3,341sqm of vacant floor space back into use.
Counr Drake-Davis said Government levelling up funding had previously helped to support the launch of the ResQ call centre in the former department store building. The portfolio holder said: “This is a significant investment into one of the most iconic buildings in Hull city centre. However, there is still so much potential to unlock. This latest LUF grant, along with almost £2m of private investment, will help to do that.”
The Hammonds department store opened on the site in 1916 and was rebuilt after being bombed during the Second World War. It was taken over by House of Fraser and eventually closed in 2019. In December 2021, the Hammonds of Hull Food Hall opened in a blaze of publicity, but struggled to attract consistent footfall. It closed in March last year amid a legal dispute between operator Artisan Food Hall Ltd and the building’s owners.
Bowling company Lane 7 lodged a licensing application in November last year. It already operates a number of venues around the country, which offer food and drink, bowling, beer pong, mini golf, darts, pool and ping pong. No further plans have been submitted for the ground floor since November.
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber
