Plans to demolish former BHS building submitted ahead of major redevelopment
Plans to demolish the former BHS building in Hull city centre have been submitted to Hull City Council.
The site is set to be transformed as a part of the Albion Square project.
The major city centre regeneration project seeks to turn the area into a mixed-use development with retail space and over 200 homes. The Grade II-listed Three Ships mural is to remain in place.
Despite planning permission having previously been secured to demolish the building, new planning documents explain that due to alterations to the site’s masterplan, a fresh application to demolish the building is now required.
This is largely due to the new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre on the corner of Albion Street and Bond Street, which was not initially part of the Albion Square plans.
The application also includes the erection of a specialist steel frame which will hold the Three Ships mural in place whilst the building itself is demolished. In late 2025, the council announced that VINCI Construction would be installing the specialist frame ahead of the building’s demolition.
A briefing paper recently put before the council’s Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Commission gave updated timelines for the Albion Square project and other major development.
The paper predicts construction on site will take place between 2027 and 2031. The paper states that design and planning approval is expected in late 2026 to early 2027.
Despite having looked rather sorry for itself in recent years, the former BHS building once stood proudly as a lively centrepiece in the city. The department store closed its doors in 2016, with the site now being a shell of its former self.
The council is currently seeking a lead development partner for the scheme. The local authority is inviting bidders via YORtender to offer their vision, a masterplan, and financial appraisal that reflects the council’s aims and objectives for the site.