Hull KR: Craven Park development to help create ‘biggest rugby club in northern hemisphere’

The project, which would transform much of the land near the East Hull stadium, seeks to help Hull KR with their ambition of becoming, as plans say, “the biggest rugby club in the northern hemisphere.”

The major development seeks to benefit the wider community as well as the rugby club itself.

The committee heard that both Aldi and Home Bargains are set to take advantage of the planned retail units. In total the site will have over 530 car parking spaces.

After receiving backing from councillors on the Hull Council committee, the application is to be delegated to the council’s Head of Planning before being referred to the Secretary of State.

The referral is due to the size of the application.

National Highways have a holding objection, however the committee heard that it is anticipated to be resolved.

The Head of Planning will be able to add or modify conditions, as long as they are only minor changes, once National Highways’ concerns are resolved.

The site can be largely split into two areas with retail and commercial units towards the North, and sporting facilities towards the South.

Much of the southern part of the site will be taken up by three full-sized rugby pitches, situated directly East of the stadium.

One of the pitches would be for Hull KR’s first team training, another would be for the academy teams, whilst the third would be a ‘community pitch’.

The development also includes a padel club, which the committee heard is to be run by Slazenger. A fan zone will also include basketball, netball, and running facilities.

The applicant for the plans, William Marshall, told the committee: “The primary driver for developing the site is to provide Hull KR with state-of-the-art training facilities in the form of new pitches and a hub building that will involve both players and media facilities, which are required for the club to compete at the highest level.

"The secondary driver for the site was to provide a new home for the Hull KR Foundation, the club’s charity arm.”

Mr Marshall went on to say: “It is no secret that these proposals require considerable capital investment which is why the retail, leisure, and commercial elements come to the fore. Both Home Bargains and Aldi have committed to take on the units closest to Annandale Road, and additional occupiers are being lined up for the other units.

Backing the plans, Coun Terry Keal, told the committee, “I can’t tell you how excited I am with this development.

Coun Keal’s motion to support of the plans was seconded by Coun Garreth Byrne, who added: “It’s not only something for Hull KR, it’s a gem of a thing for the city as a whole.”

Coun Alan Gardiner said the plans were “absolutely fantastic”, but jokingly asked if there could be more red and white on the development.