Bulldozed shopping centres and floating islands - Hull in 2045?

Trish Walker says she would like to see Hull's market return to how it used to be as part of a 20-year vision for the city centre

The 1970s and 80s were boom decades for US-style shopping centres in the UK, bringing together a host of goods and services under one roof. But in today's retail landscape, are they surplus to requirements?

That is one of the questions being asked in a report about the future of Hull.

Among the more radical ideas in the document, created for Hull City Council, is bulldozing two major shopping centres by 2045.

Called City Centre Vision, the report sets out a framework for the regeneration of Hull over the next 20 years.

It found the contraction of the retail market had left the city centre with a "sporadic retail character".

One speculative option involves demolishing Princes Quay – a flagship 1980s shopping centre built on stilts above a former dock – and replacing it with "floating habitat islands, a lido or boathouse for water sports" as well as a "floating stage".

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, described the document as "an exercise in the art of the possible".

"It's full of ideas to help with the regeneration of the city centre over the next 20 years," he said.

"What we are trying to achieve is to regenerate and bring more life and vitality back to the city centre."

Drake-Davis said the removal of Princes Quay was one of just four options included in the report. Others include maintaining it as a "prominent city centre landmark", with an improved leisure and recreational offer, and "refurbishment and partial removal", which could "re-establish the primacy of Princes Dock".

The council consulted with the owners of both shopping centres – the other is the 1970s Prospect Centre – and they were "happy for these ideas to be included".

"They wanted to see some bold thinking and that's what we think this document delivers," Drake-Davis added.

The idea of reimagining the city centre as a mixed-use space, with shops, homes and leisure facilities, builds on developments such as the Fruit Market and the plans for Albion Square.

So what do Hull people think about the ideas set out in the report – and what would they do if they had a magic wand?

Jean Stabler says she wants to see the return of "big stores"

Jean Stabler welcomed the prospect of removing Princes Quay in favour of a lido and other water activities.

"I'm totally in agreement with it because it's dying on its feet," she said.

However, the Prospect Centre had "potential".

"My vision would be to bring all the shops back. It doesn't offer much at the moment in the way of big stores," she added.

Becca Evans said she wanted to see more creativity and more events in the city.

Hull's year as City of Culture in 2017 had been really positive, but she said not enough had happened since then to "put us on the map".

Becca Evans said she wanted to see more events, similar to Hull's year in the spotlight as the city of culture

Trish Walker said the problem was a lot of high street shops had already closed. If she had a 20-year magic wand, she would return Hull's market, which she used to visit with her mum, to how it used to be.

Julie Tissington said she wanted to see more small independent shops, along with cafes and places to eat.

"I don't think I would enjoy a water-sports area, but it might be good for the children", she added.

Stuart Scott, who uses a wheelchair, said whatever happened more consideration should be given to people with disabilities.

"I think they should take it more into consideration," he said.

"Even here in the town centre, quite a lot of the shops still don't have raised platforms for getting in and out - not all of them - some have taken that into consideration like the law dictated a few years ago.

"But, it's still limiting for a lot of individuals who are disabled."

Stuart Scott thinks more consideration should be given for people with disabilities

The City Centre Vision is not a formal planning document but will be used to help develop Hull's next Local Plan, which will look at long-term strategies around housing, carbon emissions, the economy and health.

The council also hopes the ideas it contains will be used to "support market engagement", secure public funding and attract private investment.

Princes Quay and the Prospect Centre are, of course, privately owned businesses with their own plans and ideas.

For its part, the Prospect Centre said it already had plans for a hotel, restaurants and residential developments.

Managing director Zahid Iqbal said: "The plans currently are still so speculative, and we continue to plough on with our own vision.

"We are progressing with plans for residential, hotel and food and beverage spaces within the centre and Prospect House.

"We are aware retail has to diversify and that this is not something we can solely come to rely on anymore."

Whatever the vision for Hull's future looks like right now, the likelihood is it will look a whole lot different in 2045.

Additional reporting by Andrew Spence, Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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