Revealed: Hull Fruit Market masterplan featuring new homes, gallery and retail units

LONG-TERM facelift plans for Hull's Fruit Market have been revealed for the first time. An early version of a masterplan for the area between the River Humber and Castle Street features a mix of the new and the old. Up to 110 new homes are earmarked across several sites, including two courtyard-style developments. New commercial and retail units are also being proposed along with a major new international-class art gallery next to Castle Street overlooking Myton Bridge. The plans also envisage Humber Street and Pier Street being totally pedestrianised, with many existing empty former wholesale fruit trade warehouses being refurbished and offered for new use. The early ideas to create a distinctive arts-based cultural quarter in the city centre were unveiled during a public consultation event on Monday. They have been drawn up by Hull-based developers Wykeland and housebuilders Beal Homes, who have formed a joint venture company Wykeland Beal to bid to become the city council's lead development partner for the Fruit Market. Residents and nearby businesses who attended Monday's event seemed impressed. Brian Ellis, 69, of Henry Vernon Court, in Pier Street, said: "This sort of development is just what the area needs. Hopefully, it will be finished in time for the City of Culture in 2017. The one thing they need to get are the roads and pavements because they are terrible down here at the moment." His neighbour Elizabeth Armitage, 81, agreed. "I moved to Hull to live here 12 years ago and, at the time, people said I must be mad but I just love it here," she said. "I think these plans are wonderful because the area is very unique and they seem to doing their best to preserve a lot of the old buildings. "My only grumble is about the Freedom Festival when they have the big stage so close to our homes. Because of all the noise I was ill for five weeks after this year's festival. They should move it to the other end of the pier because while I don't mind having music all around us when festivals are on, having the stage so close is a bit much." Geoffrey Rhodes, who runs Caleb's Place antiques centre in Humber Street, said: "I am very impressed by some of the ideas in the plans. I just hope things can get started sooner rather than later." Steve Plater, who runs the Dinostar visitor attraction in Humber Street, added: "The proposals look a lot more achievable than the last ones put forward four or five years ago. It's ironic that since then, Humber Street's re-development has ben almost organic and these plans seem to suggest that it is going to be the way forward." The council is expected to formally appoint a lead development partner in May next year and remains in what it describes as a "competitive dialogue procurement process" with Wykeland Beal.View the Fruit Market masterplan

The Fruit Market masterplan will be on display for the rest of the week at Kingston Art Gallery in Humber Street. As well as viewing indicative development proposals for the area, people will also be able to submit their views and comments on feedback forms at the venue.

The exhibition is open from 11am to 4pm up to and including Sunday. Once a lead development partner is officially appointed by the city council, a more detailed masterplan is expected to be drawn up followed by the submission of a formal planning application.

If successful in bidding for lead partner status, the joint venture company set up by Wykeland and Beal Homes would be expected to bring forward investment in new residential and commercial projects as well as refurbishment work to existing properties.

That investment would be added to funding from the city council and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Earlier this year Wykeland secured planning permission for a £15m digital innovation centre on a site next to Humber Street.

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