The Humber Quays West was formerly the site of a small wharf built outside the main Albert Dock for shipping activities of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) the site contained a small east-west running Railway Creek harbour connected at its east end to the Albert Dock basin. In 1873 the North Eastern Railway (NER) had a warehouse built at the site, designed by Thomas Prosser and modified by Benjamin Burley, both NER architects.
The site of 1.7ha is located on the Humber front in close proximity of the Hull Marina, at the south western edge of the city centre boundary. The site is readily accessible from the Mytongate junction connecting to the A63, the east-west dual carriageway artery. It benefits from approximately 250m length of frontage to the Humber Estuary, with the western half of the site overlooking Albert Dock (including its Bull Nose), occupied by port related uses. There are a number of prominent buildings located on the waterfront including immediately to the east of the site, the Humber Quays office blocks - including the award winning 1, Humber Quays. The iconic Deep building and C4Di office space are also located further eastward from the site at the mouth of the River Hull. A residential area of 2-storey town houses built in the 1980s lies to the north of the site. To the north-west, there is the Kingston Retail Park and a leisure area (ice rink, cinema, restaurants).
This site was originally used for dock activities with a large warehouse served by railways and boat building. It initially had a large creek which was filled in by the end of the 1960s. The site was previously owned by ABP and subsequently purchased by Yorkshire Forward, who, along with Citybuild, obtained planning permission or an office-led mixed-use development in 2007, and renewed in 2013 following its purchase by C. Spencer Ltd. A planning application for the development of 88 dwellings was refused in 2013.
The site is vacant apart from a sub-station located in the north-western corner. There is an existing vehicular access from the Manor House Street/Wellington Street West roundabout. There is an existing Public Right of Way on the western boundary of the site.
The north side of the site faces Wellington Street West. The pavement and verge contiguous to the northern boundary of the site is attractively landscaped and lined with trees. There are flood defences along the southern boundary of the site. Environment Agency has a right of access to this. The site is currently secured with a perimeter fence.
Hull Quays West
Hull Quays West
Hull Quays West
The Hull Arena site formerly housed Kingston Street Goods Station (Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) later Great Central Railway) opened in 1879 and closed in the 1970s. The ice arena was built in 1986.
The site of 1.5ha comprises the current Ice Arena and extensive surface car park. This use is planned by the Council to be re-located to another part of the city centre. It lies at the south western edge of the city centre boundary. The site is readily accessible from English Street/Kingston Street and Commercial Road that connects to the A63 Trunk Road.
A residential area of 2-storey town houses built in the 1980s lies to the east of the site. To the south is Albert Dock involving port related uses. There is a prominent tower feature used by HOTA that overlooks the site. To the north there is the Kingston Retail Park and leisure area (cinema and restaurant) directly west. The main vehicular access is from English Street/Kingston Street roundabout but there is potential from Manor House Street/Wellington Street West. The existing vehicle access from Kingston Street could be used but other options could be explored.
There is a palisade fence to the rear and side boundary. The pavement and verge contiguous to the northern boundary of the site is attractively landscaped and lined with trees. The eastern end of the site is close to the edge of the Old Town Conservation Area so proposals should respect this. This part of the site is also in the setting of the Grade II listed building (Wilson Line Offices) at the junction of Commercial Road and Kingston Street, currently in use as a recreation centre and flats.
Hull Arena
Hull Arena
The existing urban structure is a result of a piecemeal and layered history heavily influenced by the arrival of the railways and ports. Expansion of the railways led to the town's dock system being expanded. In 1846 the Railway Dock was constructed, followed in 1869 by Albert Dock built for the North Sea Fishing fleet and in 1883 was expanded further west with St. Andrews Dock. Close to the docks and industrial areas C19 working class housing was built and this legacy of dense housing development is evident from the surviving street pattern off English Street, burial grounds and public houses.
The area was dominated by the reciprocal growth of docks and railways with major goods stations for the Hull and Barnsley Railway at Neptune Street, Great Central Railway at Manor House Street, and stations for both the North Eastern Railway, and Hull and Selby Railway close to Wellington street.