‘A place where everyone matters’: Ambitious new vision for Hull
HULL: A new vision for the city has been revealed. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography
An ambitious new vision for Hull’s economic growth and prosperity has been launched.
Hull’s Economic Strategy 2021-2026 – Inclusive, Sustainable, Local outlines a five-year plan for the city as it recovers from the impact of Covid-19.
Public and private sector partnerships, skills development, inclusivity and economic strengths such as green energy, digital connectivity and advanced manufacturing are all central to the strategy.
It has been launched following the success of Hull’s 10-year City Plan, which was announced in 2013 and set out to create 7,000 jobs. By 2020, more than 20,000 jobs had been delivered and in excess of £3.5bn of investment secured.
Hull’s employment rates were at their highest in March 2020, before the pandemic struck. Local wages were also growing faster than the national average and investment in the city was at an all-time high.
The initial focus of the city council’s new strategy is on continuing to recover from the social and economic impact of Covid, moving towards a city that is cleaner, greener, fairer and more inclusive by building on its core industrial strengths and heritage.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull is an unashamedly ambitious city and this strategy reflects that ambition.
“Our economic strategy will build on Hull’s successes and capitalise on its strengths, creating a shared vision for the city to own and collectively deliver.
“Hull will be a place where everyone matters and all our communities have the opportunity to benefit from sustainable economic growth.
“In delivering the vision for this strategy, Hull seeks to not only exceed previous employment, productivity and growth levels, but do so in a way with less impact on the environment, become more inclusive for all, and a great place to invest and do business.”
There are three interlinking themes at the core of the strategy – people, place and productivity:
People
Women, young people, and minority communities who have all been disproportionately affected by Covid will see improved levels of employment and access to learning and skills.
In five years, Hull will have responded to the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic with employment levels going beyond previous highs
Building on Hull’s entrepreneurial spirit, every young person and resident will have the opportunity to learn key enterprising skills.
Place
With ambitious plans for carbon neutrality, the city will be at the forefront of innovative, low carbon, climate resilient development, making it one of the most sustainable and greenest cities to live, learn, play and work.
The city centre’s major transformations – Albion Square, Whitefriargate, Queens Gardens, and the Maritime Project – will be boosted by continued growth in quality workspaces, leisure and retail investments, flood protection and high-quality affordable housing.
Continuing to push its advantages of being a UK front-runner for both digital connectivity and transport links, Hull will be one of the country’s leading smart cities, building on its citywide access to affordable ultrafast fibre optic broadband.
Productivity
Hull’s position as a major port city and part of the Humber Freeport will lead to it being established as the UK’s Green Energy City.
Continued growth in research and development, along with Hull’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, trade, logistics and the green economy, will help the city exceed regional performance with GVA (gross value added) reaching £30,000 per head of population.
Hull’s location will see it benefitting from some of the country's best international connections, building on its trade and visitor access to Europe. Investments across transport and road systems will provide more choices, improving travel times and air quality as well as promoting active sustainable travel plans.
AMBITIOUS: Daren Hale. Picture by Neil Holmes Photography
The strategy was launched today at the new headquarters of global Hull-based company Arco, whose relocation to the Fruit Market area is a major part of the long-term vision for the city centre’s regeneration and investment.
Thomas Martin, Chairman of Arco and Chair of Hull’s Business Leadership Board, said: “This strategy is for the city, its people, anchor institutions, and businesses to own and deliver.
“Working together, we can produce a regional hub for high skills, high productivity and economic growth where businesses, people and place come together to create clean and sustainable prosperity.”
Alex Codd, Assistant Director of Economic Development and Regeneration at the city council, said: “Hull will put its green city and business credentials into practice by being a leader in the cultivation of a highly productive, globally connected, circular economy that promotes social equity.
“We will build on the wide range of partnerships that exist across the city, helping to deliver on the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“Our strategy seeks to deliver an inclusive economy built on sustainable economic principles.
“Renewal is not just about the built environment but must include social change, inclusion and health improvements.
“We are aiming higher in terms of knowledge and quality of jobs and business competitiveness, and also deeper in terms of long-term societal benefits.”