BY Sam Walker | Friday 28 April 2023
Hull has been included in the government’s Levelling Up Partnership.
The scheme will see the city be part of the government’s £400m roll out and is one of 20 areas in England selected.
These funds are targeted at areas which could benefit from levelling up and help address barriers that have hindered long-term growth.
It is a major boost to Hull’s economic future having already been the recipient of government Levelling Up Funding (LUF).
In November 2021, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing, Communities informed Hull City Council that its bid for £19.5m of Round 1 Levelling Up Funds to support infrastructure and deliver a package of city centre regeneration works had been successful.
£7.5 million of the fund is being used to create a new grant scheme which aims to bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use and to create jobs.
Similar to previous grant schemes in the Old Town, the Levelling Up Grant scheme allows various diverse businesses to open and operate, breathing new life into the area.
So far, over £2 million has been awarded to businesses from LUF.
Significant investment has come in the shape of £750,000 for Wykeland Properties Ltd for the conversion of the former Burton building at 34-35 Whitefriargate to create retail and office space.
The same amount was also awarded to ResQ to renovate and bring back into use the second floor of Hammonds of Hull, helping to create almost 300 jobs in the city centre.
Other beneficiaries have been in the hospitality sector, as well as in both digital and tech and parks and leisure areas.
