AN EMERGING feel-good factor in Hull is helping boost the fortunes of the city centre, according to a new report.
It says continuing interest in the build-up to Hull's year in the spotlight as the UK City of Culture 2017 and the looming development of the Siemens offshore wind turbine facility at Alexandra Dock are among the reasons for increasing investment in the city centre.
The report follows a study carried out by the city council tracking vacancy rates over 12 months in an area including King Edward Street, Jameson Street, Paragon Street, Prospect Street and Whitefriargate, but excluding the three main city centre shopping centres.
It recorded 16 new retail, eating, drinking and other outlets opening over the period and a significant increase in footfall in Whitefriargate since the opening of the new Boyes department store in September.
Published before this week's news that coffee chain Costa is opening its third city centre store in an empty unit in Ferensway, the study also recorded an average vacancy rate of 11 per cent compared with a national average of 14 per cent.
In the report, council regeneration manager Mark Jones said: "Anecdotal evidence suggests a combination of factors are contributing to the decrease in vacancies. These factors are the impact of a strengthening economy, the impact of the city hosting UK City of Culture, the Siemens announcement and the confidence that brings to the city, market rent corrections, and finally, the changes that are happening nationally as the high street evolves from its current offer to its response to changes in retail behaviour, particularly around the decline in building new large supermarkets and the focus back on more regular visits to smaller supermarkets replacing the once a week shop."
Mr Jones said this had been underlined by the opening of two national chain convenience stores, Tesco Express in King Edward Street and Nisa in Paragon Street, along with a new Sainsbury's store due to open in the new year in the former Post Office in Jameson Street.
However, the majority of new arrivals in the city centre were independent operators.
The study found the highest vacancy rates remained in Whitefriargate, but acknowledged the potential impact of Boyes to attract more traders to the area, as well as efforts by the Trinity House Charity, which owns one side of the street, to regenerate the area with plans for a shoppers' car park within a courtyard where the old Trinity House School is being demolished.
The study also recorded the types of occupancy in the city centre, revealing that fashion shops dominated ahead of fast food outlets and financial businesses.
Out of 242 units, only seven were charity shops.
Mr Jones said: "Recording changes to the city centre is an important way in measuring the impact of economic and cultural regeneration initiatives on the city."
Disruption during faceliftAs the city centre gears up for 2017, the next two years will see major disruption in the area.
The city council's £25m plan to transform the look of many of the city centre's main streets is expected to mean headaches for traders, shoppers and motorists.
Several streets will be completely repaved, others will be redesigned with new pedestrian-only areas and the main bus loop route around the city centre will be changed.
Council officials say the work will be scheduled to avoid busy periods such as Christmas but admits there will be disruption.
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