Our project at Hull’s Fruit Market to create a new showpiece building for the tech community is nearing completion, with 160 new highly-skilled and highly-paid tech jobs set to be made available.

Once open, the three-storey sister building for the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) will offer space for tech businesses to grow and traditional companies to innovate through technology.

The £3.75m building has been developed by regeneration company Wykeland Group and is the latest major investment at Wykeland’s @TheDock tech campus in the Fruit Market creative quarter.

The project has been supported with almost £1.3m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

The new 20,000 sq ft building has ground-floor parking for 25 cars, including two electric car ports, and a secure cycle unit, with two floors of offices above. Office suites are available from 200 sq ft to 17,500 sq ft.

The building’s striking design, featuring glazed brickwork, light bronze cladding and glazed stairwells, enhances further the quality of office buildings in the city, and it also has strong environmental credentials, with a BREEAM sustainability rating of very good.

We have worked closely with Wykeland to ensure construction has continued with minimal disruption, following the introduction of Covid-secure working arrangements.

The new building is the latest phase of the @TheDock tech cluster, developed by Wykeland on a waterfront site which was derelict just a few years ago. @TheDock has the original C4DI building as its centrepiece and offers the newest Grade A office environment in Hull.

The development has generated hundreds of highly-skilled jobs and has been a vital element in the transformation of the Fruit Market area into a vibrant urban village and magnet for investment.

The new C4DI building features Grade A office space for digital businesses, with suites available ranging in size from 200 sq ft to 17,500 sq ft.

We recently completed our £3.5 million upgrade to Hornsea’s South Promenade boat compound and visitor facilities.

The work included dedicated parking for users, improved security, and boat servicing and wash down facilities.

Visitors can now benefit from a free visitor car park and picnic area, with improved access to the boathouse and the rest of the promenade.

The scheme was funded by the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the Westermost Rough Fisheries Community Fund and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

The increased size of the yard, and its new concrete surface, together with the provision of a new maintenance unit, will safeguard the current nine jobs on the site.

It also provides an opportunity for further job creation, as the redeveloped compound allows the current tenants to store and repair more pots and associated equipment on site. Extra storage also allows the use of bigger and newer boats for the fishermen, helping them to process their catch more effectively and operate their business more efficiently.

The maintenance shed is a major benefit for the commercial fishermen and the other users of the site, as on site repairs can now be carried out by the users themselves. In addition, the facility means that repair companies can visit and maintain boats on site, rather than the boats having to be transported to the repair company’s facilities.

Visitors will benefit from the parking and hook up facilities in the public car park for mobile catering facilities and other attractions such as markets, fairs, and concerts which will be a boost to the local economy and employment in the summer months, in more normal times.

Improvements to public safety on the site have been made, thanks to the redeveloped roadways and entrance, and the alteration of what was previously informal parking to the west of the site into a formal parking area.

In addition, Hornsea Day Launch, operated by Hornsea Inshore Rescue, are now able to house and launch a far greater number of pleasure boats, jet skis and other craft  to increase income and safeguard and create job opportunities.

During the upgrade, we delivered the equivalent of 76 construction jobs and recruited two higher skill level individuals.

Councillor Shaun Horton, portfolio holder for Coastal Regeneration and Tourism, said :

“I am delighted to see the completion of this hugely important facility for Hornsea, which will offer considerable benefits to the local economy, both for residents and visitors. I am grateful for the excellent efforts of our contractors, and for the funding from various sources, as well as from the council itself.

“I look forward to seeing the Boat Compound develop and flourish in the future, and maximise its great potential.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that they should avoid swimming in the area of the Boat Compound, as there is now considerably more activity there since its completion.”

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP, said:

“The regeneration of Hornsea Boat Compound will secure the long-term future of Hornsea’s fishing industry, supporting local livelihoods for years to come.

“I am pleased we were able to support this project with a £3.7m Costal Communities Fund investment.

“Improving visitor facilities at the site will also allow Hornsea to showcase its maritime heritage, boosting tourism in the region.”