A pioneering Veterans’ Village proposed for Hull has been shelved.
The scheme was to be developed on a 22-acre site off Priory Road, with work to break ground there starting in November 2023, and was aimed at helping Armed Forces personnel transition from military to civilian life. Hull 4 Heroes, the charity behind the plan, said changes in operational priorities and spiralling development costs had meant the scheme could not continue.
Paul Matson, the founder and CEO of Hull 4 Heroes, said the Veterans’ Village had had its “knockbacks” along the way that had increased the cost from £8m to £17m. He said he was “gutted, absolutely gutted” that the scheme would not now go ahead.
In a statement on social media, Hull 4 Heroes said it has stepped back from a bid to acquire an Asset of Community Value from Hull City Council – land off Coronation Road and Priory Road, where the proposed facility was to be built. Paul said: “It is with deep regret that we feel we can no longer take the Veterans’ Village forward. The decision has not been taken lightly.”
The charity first revealed plans to create the Veterans’ Village, which included 48 transitional homes for veterans leaving the Armed Forces, training and support facilities, a multi-use games area and green spaces, around eight years ago at an estimated development cost £8m.
(Image: Kevin Greene – Your Event Photographers)
However, over the subsequent years, the operational priorities have changed as demand increased for all the services provided by the charity.
In recent months there has been a significant increase in demand for services relating to permanent and temporary housing for veterans and their families, it said. As a result, Hull 4 Heroes’ trustees conducted a strategic review in June, which resulted in the decision to pull out of the tender process.
Paul said that although it was an extremely difficult decision to have to make, it was, sadly, unavoidable. “There has been a huge amount of work that has gone into this project by a lot of very dedicated people, so it is a terrible shame not to be able to take it through to completion.”
The trustees’ review focussed on the outcomes of each phase of the project, resulting in the decision not to proceed. The review determined that the extensive costs of the early phases of the project would not deliver the value and benefits which could be delivered through the core services the charity currently offers to the veterans’ communities and their families.
The trustees also considered the current financial climate in their decision and the likely available funds from Armed Forces funding bodies and central government in funding a project now estimated to cost £17m-£20m.
(Image: Hull Daily Mail)
The post said the board of trustees and Paul Matson would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped with the project to date, and all the organisations, businesses, and individuals who have supported the charity throughout the process. Paul said: “Because the Veterans’ Village will no longer go ahead, we will be giving everyone who has donated funds through the legacy campaign the choice to have their money returned to them, donated to another cause, or if they wish to do so, leave it with us so it can be directed into funding the other services we provide.
“We will also be approaching business owners who have contributed significant funds to the project to determine if these funds could be reallocated to address priorities such as veterans’ homelessness.”
Talking to the BBC about the situation, Paul said: “It’s been a long time coming and it really, really was heart-wrenching to stop it.” Feeling “mortified” about the move, Paul said: “I also know it’s the right decision.”
Hull 4 Heroes runs a drop-in centre at Princes Quay shopping centre for military veterans, as well as the Hull City Council Armed Forces Hub, from where it provides advice and guidance to veterans for housing support, welfare support, employment assistance, wellness programmes, and mental health and wellbeing care. Less than two weeks ago, it also opened a Community Shop, adding a large retail presence for the cause in Princes Quay.
“The charity makes a tremendous amount of difference in the lives of veterans from across this region,” Paul said in the post. “Our intention now is to double down on the core services we provide to veterans and their families.”
Get the latest news stories as they happen sent to your phone
