The former retail store will soon provide more than 170 new city centre apartments
Work is finally getting under way to turn the old Debenhams store into new housing.(Image: DBG Group)
A multimillion-pound project to transform the former Debenhams department store in the heart of Hull into scores of new homes has finally begun. Construction will start following work to strip back the interior of the one-time retail giant’s huge store, five years after it closed it doors to customers.
Since the high street name shut down, the inside of the building has lain empty and, as we told recently, branding and retail stands have remained in place ever since. Doncaster developers DBG Group are making a significant investment into the prime Prospect Street building, converting it into 178 city centre apartments, as part of investments topping £75m across the city.
The project was made possible by Hull City Council agreeing new lease terms with Gateway Hull Limited and DBG Group to allow for residential use, alongside the retention of an element of ground floor retail use in a number of units along Ferensway and Brock Street.
Planning permission was granted by the council last December, and the revised lease structure provided the developer with the security required to gain development funding. DBG has already invested more than £20m across a number of projects in Hull, including the completed Dunedin House (The Merchant) on Percy Street and Shirethorn House (City Point), which have created over 100 new city centre homes.
The redevelopment of the former Debenhams building is expected to act as a catalyst for a further £3.7m of private investment into Hull, whilst also bringing back into use a long-term vacant building. DBG has also submitted plans for the former Circus Circus building on Ferensway which, if approved, would create an additional 164 homes and around 54,000 sqft of commercial space. Bosses said total investment for all of these projects is predicted to top £75m.
To find planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal .
Tom Danby, MD of DBG Group, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Hull City Council to bring forward the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building, which marks an important step in the continued regeneration of the city centre.
“We anticipate our total investment in Hull will be more than £75m and it was a pleasure to work with council officers whose support has been crucial in bringing the deal over the line. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to deliver high-quality developments that support the cities ongoing growth.”
The Debenhams redevelopment and DBG Group’s investment aligns with the council’s wider city-centre regeneration objectives, including the requirement for around 2,500 new city centre homes, as well as delivering a key part Hull’s City Centre Vision in relation to the ‘Prospect Triangle’ and Ferensway.
Chris Jackson, director for regeneration and partnerships at the council, said: “Regeneration of the former Debenhams building is a great example of the public and private sectors working together. It demonstrates the council’s commitment to meeting its target of an additional 2,500 city centre homes, as well as continuing to deliver the potential set out in our City Centre Vision.
“This investment from DBG Group also shows confidence that the private sector has in Hull and will help to boost our city centre residential offer and economy.”
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .