Hull City Council has confirmed it intends to repair and restore the internal handmade Alan Boyson murals as part of the £130 million Albion Square development, following new positive surveyors’ reports.
The local authority intends to remove the two murals, which are inside the old Co-Op building in Hull city centre, as part of the demolition process before relocating them inside the development – putting them on public display for the first time since the 1980s.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic investment, said: “Hull City Council recognises the artistic, cultural and historic importance of the handmade Alan Boyson murals in the Co-Op building, which have not been publicly viewed for decades.
“Alan Boyson was particularly proud of these two murals.
“It has always been our aim and intention to retain the Alan Boyson murals as part of the Albion Square development. Surveyors’ reports have confirmed this is now achievable for the internal murals.”
The council also intends to retain the external Three Ships mural that sits on the exterior face of the BHS building.
Like the internal murals in the Co-Op building, this will follow structural surveys and investigations.
As more investigations are carried out on the Three Ships mural, other options including reducing the size of the existing panel, replicating an exact match with modern materials or replacing with new work through commission or competitions may be investigated, the council said.
