A PROPOSED city centre land bridge could be funded through a new levy on developers.
The option of including a new pedestrian land bridge is being examined as part of the looming Castle Street upgrade.
At the moment, the £160m improvement scheme includes three potential new pedestrian bridges over the A63.
However, Highways Agency officials have admitted the budget does not cover anything more than basic designs for each bridge.
City leaders are pressing for a wider, more iconic land bridge linking Princes Quay with the Marina area.
Now it has emerged that extra funding for a land bridge could be secured through new charges set to be imposed on developers.
Under the new-look community infrastructure levy, the city council will be able to charge firms for new building projects in Hull.
Money raised from the levy will go towards public infrastructure works.
In Hull, schemes already identified to benefit include the enhanced footbridge, new cycle paths and a revamp of Trinity Square.
Martin Mancey, the council's portfolio holder, said: "The community infrastructure levy will secure much-needed funding for infrastructure across Hull."
Speaking after the council launched its own charging proposals for Hull, he said it was important that developers were not put off by the new levy.
"The rates of between £10 and £50 per square metre are proposed. "The council is committed to ensuring Hull remains a business-friendly city that welcomes sustainable development," said Councillor Mancey.
James Holmes, the Highways Agency's project director for Castle Street, said talks with other possible funding partners over the land bridge option were continuing. Subject to two rounds of consultation, the city council says it hopes to start charging developers by the end of next year.
Comparable charges being considered elsewhere range from £5 per square metre in Leeds city centre for new retail developments to £90 per square metre in the city's outskirts.
Higher land and property values in the south of England are reflected by the suggested charges in Kingston on Thames, where the proposed zone-based rates range from £50 to £210 per square metre for new residential developments.
