Emerging retail emporium Hammonds of Hull remains on course to open in 2020.
Further investment from the owner, Redefine Paragon Square Hull Ltd, has allowed a new roof and replacement of the staggering 472 windows to be commissioned, with work expected to begin within a fortnight.
The prominent former House of Fraser will feature the Artisan Food Hall and Club HoH, bringing 60,000 sq ft of space for independent operators across the dining, grocery, fashion, convenience retail, entertainment and leisure sectors.
Next month will see expressions of interest taken.
Inside the iconic city location a huge atrium is being created to open up the historic building so visitors can see its vast scale.
Floors that have been disused for years will be brought back into use, creating a modern, fully functional mixed-use building, with consent for serviced apartments and office space already granted. Four new lifts are also being installed, along with new mechanical and electrical plants to each floor.
Jeremy Seymour, project lead for Hammonds of Hull, said: “Firstly, we’d like to thank the owner for the undoubted resolve and commitment they’ve shown through these most challenging times.
“We are tremendously excited to support the launch of the Artisan and Club HoH brands that will occupy the ground and basement floors, which are now fully integrated with additional stairwells and openings.
“A dynamic, creative and flexible environment will be created where we hope all can flourish and a community can grow.”
Garness Jones is to manage the letting of space, with the aim that 75 per cent of occupiers will be from the Humber region.
“We appreciate how difficult a time this has been for everyone and we hope this opportunity for creators and entrepreneurs to market and grow their business will be a positive and exciting step forward,” Mr Seymour said.
“In particular we would like to thank the on-site delivery team whose relentless effort to meet impossible time frames has been outstanding!
“We would also like to thank the Hull City Council planning officers whose open dialogue, guidance, transparency and willingness to engage has been fundamental in allowing us to make such excellent progress. It is based on their guidance that the external image of the building will remain now as close to its original heritage as possible.”
