Hull and East Yorkshire is preparing for a new phase of housing development and urban regeneration following a strategic agreement between the region’s combined authority, local councils and Homes England.
The partnership is designed to bring forward housing projects, revive underused land and attract investment by coordinating local priorities with national expertise and funding opportunities.
The agreement was signed at Hull Guildhall by Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, and Pat Ritchie CBE, Chair of Homes England. Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are also part of the initiative.
Known as a Strategic Place Partnership, the arrangement will help the organisations identify priority developments and address obstacles that can delay construction, including infrastructure requirements, land issues, project viability and investment.
Regional Authorities Seek a More Coordinated Approach
Rather than treating major developments as separate projects, the partnership will establish a shared pipeline of potential housing and regeneration schemes across Hull and East Yorkshire.
Homes England will be involved earlier in the development process, allowing its expertise and resources to be considered while proposals are being planned. The partners also intend to coordinate housing with transport, employment opportunities, public infrastructure and other community needs.
The agreement supports the Combined Authority’s wider Local Growth Plan, which aims to strengthen the regional economy by connecting development with jobs, transport links, investment and infrastructure.
The longer-term objective is to provide government, developers and investors with a clearer picture of where the region intends to grow and what support will be needed to make those plans viable.
East Bank Urban Village Could Deliver 850 Homes
One of the projects expected to benefit from the wider partnership is East Bank Urban Village in Hull.
The development would transform largely vacant brownfield land beside the River Hull into a mixed-use riverside neighbourhood featuring up to 850 homes, commercial space and green areas.
Plans also include improved walking and cycling connections, helping to integrate the development with the surrounding area.
Construction on the first phase is currently expected to begin in 2027. The project represents an opportunity to bring previously underused land back into productive use while creating new housing and public spaces.
Bridlington, Driffield and Howden Also in Focus
The partnership builds on work already taking place elsewhere in East Yorkshire.
Homes England is working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council on proposals for Easton Road in Bridlington and the redevelopment of Alamein Barracks in Driffield.
The agency is also supporting partners with plans for approximately 1,800 homes at Howden.
Together, these projects form part of a wider effort to identify suitable development sites and coordinate the investment and infrastructure needed to move them forward.
The new agreement is intended to strengthen collaboration between local authorities and Homes England so that opportunities can progress through planning and delivery more effectively.
Mayor Campbell Highlights Untapped Development Potential
Mayor Luke Campbell said Hull and East Yorkshire had considerable potential to create new homes and neighbourhoods by making better use of brownfield and underused land.
He outlined ambitions for more city-centre housing and mixed-use developments that bring homes, businesses and green spaces together.
Campbell also said the region should approach its future with the same level of ambition as other parts of the country, adding that the partnership offered another route to turning development plans into visible improvements for local communities.
His comments underline the Combined Authority’s intention to connect housing growth with broader efforts to revitalise places that have received less investment.
Homes England Pledges Support for Regional Growth
Pat Ritchie, Chair of Homes England, said the organisation would work with the mayor and local partners to align investment and support regeneration across the region.
She highlighted Hull and East Yorkshire’s established communities and ambitions for the future, describing the partnership as a way to create opportunities that could make a meaningful difference to residents.
Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency. It works with public bodies, developers and other organisations to support housing delivery and the creation of thriving places, using its expertise, land, capital and influence to encourage investment.
Shared Business Plan Will Guide Future Development
Under the Strategic Place Partnership, the participating organisations will establish joint priorities, a coordinated development pipeline and a shared business plan to help bring selected proposals forward.
The longer-term ambition is for places with such partnerships to be positioned to progress towards a Place Delivery Agreement.
That framework would bring together the powers, expertise, investment and delivery capabilities of Homes England and the National Housing Bank to provide further support for mayoral ambitions involving housing, regeneration and economic growth.
The agreement does not mean that every proposed development will automatically proceed. Projects will still need to advance through the relevant planning, funding and delivery processes.
Site Visits Focus on Future Regeneration Opportunities
Following the signing ceremony, representatives from the Combined Authority and Homes England visited Hull’s Fruit Market and the East Bank.
The visits provided an opportunity to review regeneration already completed and discuss potential projects that could shape the region’s next stage of development.
The partnership is intended to build on existing progress while helping public authorities and investment partners coordinate their efforts around projects with the greatest potential.
For Hull and East Yorkshire, the central challenge will be translating the agreement into deliverable schemes that provide homes, support businesses, improve infrastructure and create neighbourhoods where communities can thrive.
