Former hospital to fish finger factory: The disused sites in Hull which are ripe for development

Work is continuing apace at a number sites, while others have been earmarked for projects. They include the site of the former Birds Eye factory, in Hessle Road, and land once occupied by the Hull Maternity Hospital, in Hedon Road.

Other projects in development include the Bankside Business Park, on the site of the former National Grid land, in Clough Road, where gasometers have been removed in recent months. Meanwhile, at St Andrew’s Dock, tentative plans are being discussed for a major new development.

A total of 26,905 square metres of floor space was under construction on eight sites as of March this year, according to a Hull City Council report. Planning permission is in place to develop a further 21 sites not previously allocated for development, totalling 12,784sqm. Here, we round up progress on sites around the city, with details from the council report.

Western corridor

The “western corridor” includes areas such as Hessle Road and the western docks. Work has begun on junction improvements at the Priory Park Industrial Estate, with permission for two large sites granted in December. The need for improvements at the entrance to West Hull Industrial Estate held up development.

The former Birds Eye factory site, in Hessle Road, is still undeveloped, but Atlas Leisure Homes, which has a base nearby, is understood to have bought the site. The area has been used for caravan storage.

Land near Neptune Street has been cleared, though it is unclear what the owner’s intentions are. A planning application for a business park with 17 units was lodged and a decision was still pending as of March this year. The report stated that it may be considered as part of the future of the Smith & Nephew site, once the company relocates to the Melton West Business Park.

Land at St Andrews Dock has been plagued by issues, including the future of the Lord Line Building and other historic features. Lord Line and the dock itself are owned separately. In September, we revealed that “big plans” are in the pipeline to redevelop the dock, along with land to the west of Makro, though details remain under wraps.

River Hull corridor

Ashcourt Group has recently bought the former National Grid site, in Clough Road, and is now advertising plots for a new Bankside Business Park. Meanwhile, a site at Rix Road is currently used as a storage and transit facility for a logistics company, but it surrounds Stoneferry Primary School on three sides, a factor that will influence future development according to the council report. Land by Bedford Street and Cleveland Street is being used for the expansion of a traveller site.

Reckitts has acquired land in Chapman Street and has cleared and levelled it for a future expansion. Geminor UK Ltd has taken over a site once home to gas storage infrastructure in St Mark Street, where it is planning to build a plant producing fuel from industrial and commercial waste.

Floorplates and hard-standing remain on a site in Foster Street, which has been vacant for some time, though buildings there have been demolished. The council believes nearby waste management activity could be putting some developers off moving there. Land by Oxford Street, Swann Street and Wincolmlee has now been redeveloped for industrial and storage use.

Sutton Fields

There are a few vacant plots on Sutton Fields industrial estate, between the River Hull and Holwell Road. Part of the planned construction of the Rotterdam Industrial Park, on land south of Rotterdam Park, is now complete.

Donaldsons owns a large, grassed area of land which is believed to be earmarked for future expansion. A site off Stockholm Road is currently being used for car sales and delivery, but the council believes development could take place there in future.

Eastern Corridor

Plots are still set to be developed in the future Kingston Parklands Business Park, off Hedon Road on the site of the former maternity hospital. The plots will be released for development in the future, with the council advertising the space as being ideal for renewable energy businesses.

One plot is left at a site in Burma Drive, which has been rapidly developed. The former Fenners factory complex, west of Marfleet Lane, includes about 9 hectares of land, but redevelopment would depend on what kind of strategy is drawn up for the site. Paneltex has absorbed a site north of Hedon Road, while one off Somerden Road is being used by Rix Shipping Co. for timber treatment.

Kingswood

Two sites in Kingswood, one for employment and another for either employment or community use, remain undeveloped. Permission has recently been granted to build a Lidl at the Raich Carter Way roundabout. Plans for a car park to serve businesses and a community church have also recently been approved.

City centre

The most significant development planned for the city centre is Albion Square, which is set to feature 3,548sqm of grade A office space. The report stated that there had been a significant loss of older office space in the city centre, especially to housing.

But demand for high-grade office space remains, as shown by recent moves to develop some sites. The council plans to monitor future demand given the move to more flexible working in recent years.

Port of Hull

Two sites at the Port of Hull, which operates under its own permitted development regime, remain available for renewable energy development. Permission has also recently been granted for a major expansion of the Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade plant at Alexandra Dock.