Charity support organisation HEY Smile Foundation is leading a new use of the recognisable site
Castle Buildings in Hull will transform into a shared base for Hull’s voluntary, community and enterprise sectors.(Image: Hull City Council)
The rejuvenation of a Hull city centre landmark is continuing with grant funding from Hull City Council. The Castle Buildings on Waterhouse Land is set to become a shared base for the city’s voluntary, community and enterprise sectors in a project let by charity HEY Smile Foundation.
The historic building will host activity and community space along with professional meeting and conference facilities, offices and shared administrative support. It is receiving new IT infrastructure and furniture as part of the refurbishment which is expected to create three new jobs.
HEY Smile Foundation, which works with the region’s charity sector to provide infrastructure, is committing more than £230,000 of its own funding. That is being matched by Hull City Council’s Government-backed Pride in Place Impact Funding.
The grant is part of the £1.5m awarded to the council through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Pride in Place Impact Funding. The funding’s three main objectives are to create, improve or refurbish community spaces; enhance public space such as green spaces and sports and leisure amenities; and make high streets and town centres more attractive and welcoming places to encourage economic activity.
The council is using £750,000 of this to continue its highly successful city centre regeneration investment programme, with the other half being added to the Community Highstreets programme to expand its activity.
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Chris Jackson, director for regeneration and partnerships at the council, said: “Having a hub for voluntary, community and enterprise sectors in one place, in the city centre, will encourage networking and foster improved relationships to the benefit of our residents.
“This is a great example of the Pride in Place Impact Funding meeting one of its objectives improving or refurbishing community spaces, and a great use for the Castle Building which have been recently restored.”
Castle Buildings survived the Second World War and went on to house coal exporters, shipping agents and ship owners throughout the 1970s. In 1994 it was given Grade II listed status. Local developers Wykeland Group have been carrying out the refurbishment of the building.
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