The famous Three Ships mural will be retained during the development of the site, as part of a complex civil engineering masterplan
The Three Ships mural is particularly important to Hull, it was once considered the largest mosaic in the whole of the UK(Image: Hull City Council)
Hull City Council has launched a search to find a demolition contractor to undertake the next phase of its Albion Square redevelopment. The company doing the work must be able to complete the demolition and clearance of the former BHS building, while preserving its famous Grade II listed Three Ships Mural.
The demolition will follow completion of works to install a steel support frame to allow the iconic mural to be cut away from the former BHS building and remain in place as a freestanding structure. Following the success of this phase, Hull City Council is now hoping the demolition works could begin in early 2027.
The demolition of the former BHS building is the second phase of the Albion Square redevelopment, with the NHS-funded Community Diagnostic Centre opened in 2025 on the corner of Albion Street and Bond Street. The facility has been a big success for local residents. It has undertaken 73,500 appointments in its first 12 months, surpassing its initial target of 27,000 appointments in that period.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for economic renewal and housing, explained the project was a crucial part of the city’s growth and would help to catalyse Hull’s economy. “The council being able to welcome tender bids for a demolition contractor demonstrates the progress which the Albion Square development continues to make. We have already seen the success of the Community Diagnostic Centre as part of the project, which not only supports crucial medical needs, but also benefits the city centre through increased footfall,” he said.
“Albion Square is a vital city centre development which will help boost Hull’s local economy, being a high-quality destination for visitors and residents alike. Importantly, it is the next piece of the jigsaw, transforming a vacant site into one that will be a top addition for the city.”
Plans to demolish the former BHS building in Hull city centre were approved earlier this year, as part of the wider regeneration project that will change the face of a considerable part of the city centre. The building, which overlooks Jameson Street in the city centre, has been vacant for a number of years. The department store closed its doors around a decade ago, back in 2016, and will be replaced by a new landmark mixed-use building with homes and retail space.
The Three Ships mural will be retained during the development of the site as part of a complex civil engineering masterplan. A secure steel frame is holding the Grade II listed mural in place while the former BHS building, on which it sits, is demolished. Once the new building is in place, the protective frame will be removed and the mural will form a key part of a redeveloped central place in Hull.
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Another chapter in a long-running heritage campaign
A resolute campaign to ensure the survival of the Three Ships mural has been running for the past ten years. The mural is a detailed mosaic artwork, designed by Stockport-born artist Alan Boyson in 1963.
The Three Ships is particularly important to Hull. It was once considered the largest mosaic in the whole of the UK and depicts three distinctive stylised fishing trawlers. Some people believe the masts spell out ‘Hull’ too.
The Hull Heritage Action Group, Hull Civic Society and The Twentieth Century Society, along with local residents, all campaigned to save the artwork. Its design has the Latin motto Res Per Industriam Prosperae woven into it, which roughly translates to ‘success through hard work’ and connects the region’s maritime history with Hull’s working class heritage. The artist’s mosaic work can be seen in significant public places around the north of England, with The Tree of Knowledge in Salford also being Grade II listed.