Work to renovate city park rises by further £4.8m

Work is continuing on the regeneration project at Queens Gardens

An extra £4.8m is needed to complete works to regenerate Queens Gardens in Hull.

Funding of £12m was announced to make improvements at the city centre park in 2021 but the project is now expected to cost £21.1m in total.

Hull City Council's cabinet approved the additional funds at a meeting on Monday.

Councillor Mike Ross, the leader of the authority, said the plans were now "significantly better and more ambitious" than those put forward originally.

Last year, it was decided that the project should be split into two phases to help "address urgent structural issues and reduce the impact of ongoing uncertainty and volatility in the construction industry relating to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic".

Both phases cost more than the council first anticipated and interim costings last year put the project at £16.3m.

The recommendations to increase the budget were made to cabinet, which supported the increase to "enable improved delivery of the project".

Additional costs include more tree planting, rebuilding walls, drainage and hazard removal.

The project is set to create a link between some of the city’s key maritime heritage sites.

'Cherished space'

Mr Ross said: "People said they wanted to see improvements to this area and the council is committed to delivering them.

“These more ambitious plans, put together with cost inflation, Brexit, and the Covid-19 pandemic have naturally led to the increase in costs.

“The works will ensure that this much-loved and cherished green space, in the heart of the city centre, is future-proofed for generations to come.

“We are proud to preserve the history and heritage of our city and improve public spaces for the community. So far, the work on the project has been going to plan and the transformation in the gardens is already clear to see.”