Six parklets are being installed in new locations across Hull city centre to help support the local economy and hospitality sector.
Following a successful trial which started in 2023, Hull City Council has worked closely with businesses and the public to identify suitable new locations for the six parklets. They were originally located along Princes Dock Street.
Members of the public were given a chance to suggest locations for the parklets, which were then reviewed by Humberside Police and the council.
The council can now confirm that the six new locations are:
- Kingston Theatre Hotel, Kingston Square/John Street
- The New Clarence Pub, Charles Street/John Street
- Scale & Feather Bar, Scale Lane
- City Hotel, Lowgate
- Karamel, Prospect Street
- Rayners Pub, West Dock Street
The first parklet was installed today (Friday 24 July) outside The New Clarence Pub, with the rest of the parklets due to be installed week commencing Monday 3 August.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council said: “Parklets provide additional outdoor seating areas during the warmer months, allowing for more customers to enjoy the outdoors and support Hull’s hospitality sector.
“They also transform underutilised spaces into attractive and vibrant areas for people to enjoy. We have seen during the trial just how successful they have been and want to see this elsewhere in the city centre.
“The council would like to thank businesses and the public who engaged with us to determine suitable locations for the units.”
The parklets are part of the council’s £6m Local Centres investment scheme.
Portfolio holder for economic renewal, housing and organisational development, Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, added: “We know how much people value these spaces and how successful they have been in the past, that’s why we were keen to work with businesses and the public to find these new locations.
“By installing these parklets, we hope to encourage people to spend more time in the city centre, benefiting both businesses and the local economy.”
It is expected the parklets will be in their new locations for up to two years, but this will be able to be changed, depending on how successful they are in their new locations.
Businesses will have a role to play by providing parklet furniture, as well as the day-to-day maintenance, however the council will retain responsibility for any physical structure repairs.
In most locations, the parklets will be placed over existing parking bays immediately outside the business premises they are supporting.
The council is exploring opportunities to provide additional parking bays in close proximity to those being removed, helping to maintain parking provision.
There was strong support for locating parklets along Savile Street, however the lack of a kerb between the footpath and carriageway meant the location did not conform with accessibility criteria.
Despite this, the council will work to develop an alternative solution and work with the interested parties on this.