DBG proposes 190 flats for former Hull Debenhams

The developer has submitted plans to bring the 180,000 sq ft department store into residential use, having stood vacant since its closure in 2021.

Located on Prospect Street in the city centre, plans include 187 one-bed and three two-bed apartments, spread over five floors, with storage for 290 bikes.

The details, submitted by HMS Town Planning & Urban Design, are scant at the moment, as at this stage the Doncaster-based developer is looking to determine whether the change of use from retail to residential will be allowed by Hull City Council.

In support of this, the heritage statement notes that the building is empty, having failed to attract buyers, either retail or commercial, who need a building of that size and scale.

DBG acquired the property earlier this year, and so far HMS has submitted an application looking to replace the windows of the building to bring it up to livable standards, stating that ‘the most feasible use of the site would be either complete residential or residential in part.’

Part of the building falls within the Paragon Conservation Area, the commercial and retail core of Hull City Centre that evolved during the 19th and early 20th centuries.