Same here CC, left in '77 but still have lots of family (and a football team) in Hull - the piece on Look North only stuck 'cos I'd actually seen him all those years ago.
The Whitfield statue (which is outside New Theatre for you ex-pats) originally had a terrible plaque on the front full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors (Castro would have been livid). Thankfully it's now been replaced by a better one.
Not only will the Radisson Blu hotel not be built in time for City of Culture, but as things stand currently, it won't be built at all... Hull City Council Press Release Planning Committee determines material start not made on Clarence Mills scheme - 20/09/2016 Hull City Council's Planning Committee have determined that a material start has not been made on the Clarence Mills scheme for student housing, hotel, casino, bar, cafe and restaurants. The original permission for this scheme was granted in December 2008 but it has been determined that no valid start has been made on the site. This means the permission has now lapsed and if any new development is to come forward on the site a new planning permission will be required. Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, said: "It is disappointing that this prime city centre site has not been developed out since permission was given in 2008. As a Council we have provided planning support for the site through its allocation in the local plan and the granting of the planning permission in 2008 and its extension in 2010.m Unfortunately it is for the land owner to develop out schemes and unfortunately in this case that has not happened." Alex Codd, City Planning Manager, said: "The decision to refuse the Lawful Development Certificate is a purely technical decision based on the lack of drainage, archaeology, contamination, renewable energy and phasing information submitted to discharge the necessary pre-commencement planning conditions. The decision does not consider the appropriateness of the development and I am disappointed this site has not been developed out." Ahead of 2017 the Council has approved a number of residential schemes in the city centre, approved schemes for an enhanced dining and drinking offer, as well as major physical improvements to the city's leisure offer through works to the Ferens and New Theatre. Alongside this the Council are currently dealing with an application to extend the Holiday Inn at the Marina and have approved a Hilton Hotel on Ferensway, the site has now been cleared to commence development. The Clarence Mills development is one of a number of important sites where permission for development has been granted but not progressed by the developer, and that, unfortunately, the Council has no powers to ensure development takes place.
The Clarence Mill site is the second site where Manor have allowed their planning permission to lapse, the Lord Line site is in the same position.
I assume this Radisson deal, would have been like the majority of these hotel chains, investors build the building, and the likes of Radisson agree to put their name to it and manage the hotel. If this is the case Manor have not been able to either come up with the funds to build it or cannot find investors to take it on?
Once you've got a hotel operator signed up and lease terms agreed, funding is not normally a problem, but this development was a mix of hotel and residential and I suspect the residential aspect was more problematic.
I think the council should be able to compulsory purchase all the land owned by manor and disqualify the directors for 10 years. Edit: and by compulsory purchase I mean "here's a pound for this site".
Breaking news. Official 'David Bowie & Spiders From Mars' convention coming to Hull May 2017. Two day event.
Why are Manor properties allowed to buy buildings and land? They let them go into a state of disrepair and seem on the face it complete arsecunts.