Priory Park in Hull was one of HBD’s first strategic joint venture projects. Delivered in partnership with Network Rail, it was a chance for the company to assimilate a longstanding presence in Yorkshire, deploying its substantial expertise and showing clients the benefit of a flexible approach.
The magnitude of the project was truly impressive. HBD undertook the transformation of a sprawling 150 acre brownfield mixed use site, giving rise to a diverse range of spaces. These included industrial and logistics facilities, modern offices, vibrant retail spaces, and convenient roadside amenities.
The project was not without its challenges. The site, formerly a railway siding, presented complexities for construction, something HBD overcame thanks to its vast expertise, recommending a phased approach that saw the construction programme broken down into manageable elements.
The first package of works saw HBD lay the foundations for the site’s long term, sustainable future, overseeing the funding and delivery of a programme of infrastructure development that resulted in the creation of new roads, power and utilities connections, and important transport infrastructure – including a park and ride facility that would enhance the connectivity of the site to the city centre and make it easier for people to get to the site, especially the local talent pool of future employees.
The infrastructure works preceded phased developments, with HBD creating high quality warehouses, workspaces and other commercial premises that would ultimately appeal to a diverse array of businesses. Completed in 2016, those spaces are now home to national, international and regional organisations with notable occupiers like Arco, a leading manufacturer of site and workwear, which relocated its warehouse and office operations to Priory Park, and car brand Mercedes – which also now operates a dealership here.
Priory Park has been transformative for Hull, acting as a catalyst for economic growth, creating thousands of jobs and boosting the skills base across the region. Thanks to the foresight of HBD in the early days – including its creation of new transport links – it is a scheme that is working for the long term, and one which will continue to drive investment within the region, supporting a successful and innovative local economy for many years to come.
