The mural is to be preserved during the area’s regeneration
The iconic Three Ships Mural which overlooks Hull city centre has undergone a dilapidation survey, to asses its condition. Hull City Council awarded a contract worth £3,520 to a local Hull firm for the survey.
The Grade-II listed mural is to be retained despite the wider regeneration of Albion Square. The former BHS building, to which the mural is attached, is planned to be demolished by the end of 2026 – making way for the redevelopment of the area.
The mural, designed by Alan Boyson, was listed in 2019 amidst concerns for its future. Prior to the mural being given protected status, a council decision record had come into force removing the contractual obligation for the site’s contractor to preserve the it as part of the Albion Square development.
In December 2025, the council revealed that the mural is to be secured by a specialist steel frame, allowing it stand alone whilst the former BHS is demolished and replaced. The council is hoping to appoint a lead development partner for the wider project in the Spring.
Ahead of the works, the council awarded a contract to Hull-based, Gabbitas Gill Partnership Limited (trading as GGP Consult) for a dilapidation survey to asses the condition of the iconic city centre artwork. The work included both internal and external inspections, a full report of the mural’s condition, and the formulation of a list of requirements to prevent further dilapidation.
Although the contract officially began on January 5, running to January 12, the dilapidation survey actually took place last month. A Hull City Council spokesperson said: “This latest work to protect and preserve the iconic Three Ships mural forms part of the next phase of work in the redevelopment of Albion Square, which is a key regeneration site at the heart of Hull city centre.
“With plans to ultimately demolish the former BHS building before the end of 2026, the council is currently seeking a lead development partner to take us further forward with the Albion Square project, which is crucial to the regeneration journey we’re taking Hull on. Details of how prospective lead development partners can submit their bids will be published in the coming weeks, with a view to making an appointment in the spring.”
The wider Albion Square development includes the Community Diagnostic Centre. The £18m centre on the corner of Albion Street and Bond Street opened last Autumn, allowing patients to get X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and other treatments in the city centre, without having to go to a hospital.
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