Warning of £218m funding gap for plans to develop city's future

HULL is more than £218m short of the money required to build an infrastructure adequate for the needs of the next quarter of a century, a report has warned.

A review of the city's material needs until 2026 estimates the total cost of the necessary work to be more than 1.3bn, and of that there is definite shortfall of nearly 120m, and only "uncertain" funding for 98.4m more.

A report commissioned by the city council to inform the new Hull Development Framework, which will guide planning policy and development, identified areas in transport, utilities, telecommunications, flood defences and green infrastructure that need significant investment.

They include:

The A63 at Castle Street;

Electricity supply;

Flood defences;

Telecommunications;

Parks and open spaces.

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The report, by Ove Arup and Partners Ltd, describes Castle Street as "not currently fit for purpose" because of congestion, the restriction it imposes on pedestrians and because it acts as a barrier rather than a link between the city centre and the waterfront. It goes to city planners next Tuesday.

"As one of the main strategic routes through the city, the A63 should act as an enabler of development, but currently functions as a constraint on future growth," the report said.

It says a new electricity substation is needed for the city centre, and described existing flood defence infrastructure as in a "very variable" condition, and those along the River Hull as "poor".

One of the more complex issues is telecommunications – and Hull's drive to become a digital city because of the unchallenged dominance of Hull-based telecoms firm, Kingston Communications.

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Hull is the only city in the country not served by BT and the regulatory framework reinforces KC's monopoly and deters competition, the report said.

This is most keenly felt in the provision of broadband, which leaves the city at risk of having an "increasingly out-moded" telecommunications network.

Many sport and recreation facilities are ageing and require significant improvement, and there is also a deficit in the quantity and quality of green infrastructure.

But the study concluded there was "broadly sufficient" infrastructure, current or planned, to support the housing and economic growth aspirations for the city until 2026.

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In his summary, city planning manager Alex Codd said the list of required infrastructure should be prioritised in light of the current economic climate.

Council leader Carl Minns said the need was not urgent and the council would strive to explore all possible sources of funding for the projects required.

He said: "It's not just public money; if you look at things like utilities and a new substation, a lot of this is private investment.

"This takes a long-term view of the sort of infrastructure Hull needs and this is not needed tomorrow or next year.

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"The council has to show some leadership and work with the private sector and Government to identify the funding for these schemes."

But he did take issue with the criticism of green infrastructure, and defended the work done by successive administrations.

He said: "I think the city has a fantastic range of parks and open spaces. East Park, Bude Park, West Park, and Pearson Park have all had significant investment in the last few years under both Labour and Lib Dem councils.

"I'm surprised it's picked up green spaces as much of an issue."

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