The building was sold in 2018. Credit: Hull CC

Funding boost for Europa House revamp

9 October 2023 10:45 Neil Tague Comments (0)

Venture Business Space, part of Allenby Commercial, has secured £1.5m towards the £6.5m redevelopment of the vacant Hull office building in a project branded as Monocle.

At the junction of Anlaby Road and Ferensway, the 45,000 sq ft building should see work start soon with the first two floors open in spring 2025. Full completion is expected in November 2025.

The £1.5m package comes from the council’s allocation of government Levelling Up Funding and Hull & East Yorkshire LEP’s Growing Places Fund, with both providing £750,000.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “The former Europa House building is a prominent and key property in the city centre which has stood dilapidated for many years.

“This is another important step forward in the regeneration of Hull city centre, once again supported by Levelling Up Funding.

“It is yet another example of Hull going against the national trend of seeing continued economic investment into the city centre and bringing empty buildings back into use.”

James Newman, HEY LEP chair, added: “HEY LEP’s Growing Places Fund supports businesses which are vital to the vibrant local economy in Hull and East Yorkshire.

“This project will be an important addition to ensuring that Hull city centre continues to develop and will attract new businesses to the city.”

The Monocle project will provide commercial space at ground level and office accommodation on the five upper floors.

The plan is to maximise the rail and bus links from the adjacent transport interchange, with car parking available on site, cycle storage space and shower and changing facilities.

Allenby Commercial boghut the building in August 2018.

Andrew Allenby, managing director of Allenby Commercial, said: “All of our projects are focused on creating jobs in our home city by regenerating sites which were in danger of being forgotten and we are delighted Hull City Council Hull & East Yorkshire LEP are able to support us with this particular project.

“We bought the building before the pandemic and have had to face up to the changing landscape in commercial property and to the imperative of creating jobs in Hull city centre.

“We have always worked to the highest standards but now the bar is even higher. To buck the trend of remote working and to attract people into the buildings you need to offer excellent facilities. That means offering the widest range of transport options and combining workspace with leisure and relaxation facilities.

“Monocle is another example of our strategy of renovating older buildings which have profile and character and using them to bring new jobs to Hull.”