Costs spiral for city's maritime project

The predicted cost of the Hull Maritime project is expected to be about £20m more than was initially approved in 2019.

Documents presented to Hull City Council's economy and environment overview and scrutiny commission last week showed the total cost of the project was now predicted to be almost £50m.

Despite the increase, the council said it was confident the project would deliver great benefits for the city.

The latest figure does not include funding for the Queen's Gardens regeneration, which is funded separately.

The project is jointly funded by the council, along with a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund of about £18.5m, with £2.5m coming from private donations, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Council leader Mike Ross said: "Hull Maritime has grown into something far more ambitious than originally planned, from creating one of the most energy efficient cultural buildings in the UK to improving accessibility on board the Arctic Corsair.

"This evolution reflects our commitment to creating a world-class maritime experience that celebrates Hull's unique story and its people," he added.

"Despite challenges, we are absolutely determined to deliver an exceptional plan for the people of Hull, which will last a lifetime."

Earlier this year, Hull was named one of the top 25 global destinations to visit in 2026 by National Geographic.

It noted Hull's major regeneration programme, most of which is due to be completed this year.

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