Building set to be bulldozed but will
rise again

Hull City Council said it had explored all options to try and preserve the distinctive building but had concluded it will have to be brought down.

However, proposals for a new building in the style of Wellington House will be included in regeneration plans for the area being drawn up with developer Wykeland Beal.

Coun Steven Bayes, the council cabinet member responsible, said: “The safety of residents and visitors is paramount and due to the extent of structural damage to Wellington House, we have no other option then to demolish the building.

“We will work with our prospective partner Wykeland Beal to bring funding to rebuild Wellington House as part of the future regeneration programme, respecting the original materials, design features and scale.”

Wellington House was earmarked for major refurbishment last year but the building was damaged by a major fire.

Engineers were called in to examine the damage and it was hoped that partial demolition would preserve the rest of the building.

There were also plans to preserve the facade and rebuild it, or to demolish the building by hand and preserve the materials.

But the council has now decided that for health and safety reasons Wellington House will have to be demolished by mechanical means.

A firm of architects has been asked to draw up designs for the Wellington House site.

The announcement of the demolition of Wellington House followed the advice being given to the organisers of the Hull 10km race on Sunday that the route should be diverted away from the junction of Wellington Street and Queen Street.

Hull City Council’s longstanding plans to revitalise the Fruit Market area stalled during the downturn but were revived last year.