Work stalls on half of Hull city centre developments, including Quay West and Bond Street flats
HALF of all city centre developments granted planning permission since 2005 have yet to get off the ground.
Research by Hull City Council blames the state of the economy for schemes stalling after being given the go-ahead by the authority.
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In limbo: The Rank Hovis Mill remains an eyesore.
In particular, low land values in Hull, lack of market demand and access to finance are seen as key barriers to construction.
Stalled schemes range from the Quay West extension of Princes Quay to the redevelopment of the derelict former Edwin Davis department store in Bond Street.
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In a new report, the council's planning manager Alex Codd also takes ministers to task for repeatedly suggesting developers and investors are being put off by the planning system itself.
He said: "The Government's claims that the planning system is an obstacle to development with onerous agreements preventing development coming forwarded is ill-founded.
"Within Hull it is not the lack of planning permissions that is preventing development coming forward."
Mr Codd said 33 of the 67 proposals granted planning permission by councillors in the city centre since January 2005 had yet to translate into actual schemes.
"The large number of permissions granted indicates the significance of the city in terms of employment, housing, retail and leisure activities, although over the past year there has been a reduction in city centre schemes coming forward," he said.
"Undoubtedly, the current economic situation will be having an impact.
"The issues of delivery are particularly crucial in the current economic climate and one of the council's priorities is the delivery of physical regeneration."
Mr Codd said recent moves by the council to relax policies around land use is an example of how the authority is trying to buck the development trend in the city centre.
He said: "The difficulty within the city is land values are low and market demand for certain services limited, against this backdrop access to finance is a key factor preventing development coming forward.
"If the Government was able to support investment into new build projects and enable applicants to access finance more easily at a reduced costs this would help the delivery of development."
The council currently has a policy of giving two-year planning consents for city centre developments with the aim of encouraging construction work to start sooner.
Comments
by Kirke
Friday, November 16 2012, 2:50PM
“I have time for a better reply..
"What do you think should be done about these sites which Manor are sitting on?"
Not sure if there is anything the council can do. Perhaps stipulate timescales in clearance work as part of planning consent? At least then the buildings wouldn't be eyesores. If they want anything actually building then I guess they would have to approach Manor to buy up the land off them, good use of tax payers money (that they probably haven't got)?
As far as demand goes, if there was any, then I'm sure Manor would have sourced finance and/or sold on the land at a profit.
What I have tried to suggest in my previous comments is that the council should be working on trying to generate that demand, hopefully with the LEP being used to full effect, and possibly even this 'City Deal' if it comes off. Turning away plans by the Allams, however, doesn't fill me with confidence.”
by sammysecer
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:59AM
“Thought planning permission ran out if there was no activity within 5 years of granting the permission. Maybe I am wrong but I was sure this was the case.”
by Kirke
Thursday, November 15 2012, 7:55PM
“GEvans, no I dont. What can the council do about the site?”
by GEvans76
Thursday, November 15 2012, 6:33PM
“Kirke
Do you work for the council?
What do you think should be done about these sites which Manor are sitting on?
Your clearly far more educated on this matter than myself so I'm curious.”
by Kirke
Thursday, November 15 2012, 6:19PM
“*Past, posts not spellchecked.”
by Kirke
Thursday, November 15 2012, 6:17PM
“MikeHKR has clearly worked out how to delete cookies (or whatever it is, computer geeks?) so he can 'like' and 'dislike' to his hearts content. Well done Mike, proved how sad you are.
So whats does MikeHKR suggest gets built on these sites? More public money being thrown at hollow vanity projects? Or perhaps the council should be spending more money on resources to allow them to attract the types of business that would fill such developments?
Bit passed your comprehension MikeHKR? Are you still going to suggest I'm 'sticking up for Manor'?”
by MikeHKR
Thursday, November 15 2012, 6:03PM
“Kirke
Manor Mill, did they really think that people in Kingston Upon Hull believed that the ridiculous proposal would actually happen, the answer is no we didn't.
If Manor are going to make up 'pie in the sky' developments at least make them believable, but whilst all this happening these major City centre sites will continue to attract vandalism, arson attacks and drug use, we know these developments wont happen but at least get your skint boss to at least put up security gates.
Manor Mill LOL”
by Kirke
Thursday, November 15 2012, 5:51PM
“"You either work for Manor or the council nobody else could try and defend Manor Properties."
How does my post in any way suggest I'm sticking up for Manor?
Manor are clearly landbanking, but then you are assuming that all of the developments proposed and not yet seen through are Manor ones?
Are we to assume that if Manor weren't the ones proposing developments such as Manor Mill, they would actually get built.
Bit of delusion on here then if that is the case..”
by GEvans76
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:54PM
“Manor Property Group.
Nothing more needs to be said.”
by MikeHKR
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:48PM
“Kirke
You either work for Manor or the council nobody else could try and defend Manor Properties.
They lie constantly with regards to start dates, release media stories that hotel chains like Hilton are moving into these proposed sites, yet when you check the Hilton website nothing appears.
Manor are a joke property company who have no history of projects anywhere being built it's laughable.”