Ivan Morris Poxton

The Humber Bridge safety barrier scheme is being revised to use fixed glass panels in limited areas near the bridge towers and anchorage points, where engineers found the approved tensioned wire system could not be securely anchored. East Riding of Yorkshire Council has approved the variation, while a corresponding application to North Lincolnshire Council remains pending. The panels are intended to preserve the bridge’s open appearance and views, with UV markings proposed to reduce bird-collision risks. The project is expected to proceed in two phases without closing traffic lanes, funded by the Bridge Maintenance Fund and previously estimated at £3 million.

Hull Lord Mayor Maria Coward explained that she raised concerns at a council meeting after a member of Hull’s Youth Parliament said she had been spat on and told to return to her own country because of her skin colour. Youth Parliament members reportedly told her that they did not feel safe and that some parents advised them to avoid drawing attention in public. Coward called for councillors to work with communities and police to prevent further abuse, while emphasizing that the incident was raised as a preventative warning rather than evidence of a wider series of attacks. She also highlighted the positive work of local communities and said racism and division must be challenged. Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Luke Campbell is due to meet the Youth Parliament in September.

Hull Maritime Museum is set to reopen on August 8, 2026, after a six-year, £20.4 million refurbishment supported by Hull City Council and £7.7 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The redesigned museum features a new second floor and public dome-level view, around 1,300 objects, interactive exhibits, accessibility features including British Sign Language videos, a planetarium and displays on Hull's maritime and working-class history. Officials and museum staff say the project will strengthen heritage education, tourism, the local economy and community pride. Admission is free, with separate charges for the planetarium and future behind-the-scenes tours; advance booking is recommended.

Hull Maritime Museum is due to reopen on August 8 after more than six and a half years of closure. The refurbished museum will display about 1,300 objects, including returning favourites such as Erik the Polar Bear and a 119-year-old North Atlantic right whale skeleton, alongside a new planetarium, scrimshaw collection, interactive exhibits and a public-access dome-level view. The redevelopment forms part of Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime Project, funded by Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which also includes improvements to other maritime and heritage sites across the city.

Hull’s rail electrification campaign has continued for more than 13 years, beginning with a privately financed proposal by Hull Trains in 2013. The project was rejected in 2016, excluded from the 2021 Integrated Rail Plan, and omitted again from later Northern Powerhouse Rail plans despite repeated commitments and local campaigning. Hull City Council has renewed its cross-party appeal to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The Department for Transport says there are currently no plans to electrify the Hull-Selby line, but points to the £11 billion Transpennine Route Upgrade, Northern Powerhouse Rail and future use of battery trains and partial electrification. Local leaders argue electrification could reduce Hull-Leeds journey times from about 57 to 38 minutes and significantly expand the region’s economic reach.

A former Winfields Outdoors store at 283–287 Hessle Road in Hull could be converted from one retail unit into seven under plans submitted by Prime Sterling Property. The proposal would create three units on each of the ground and first floors and one on the second floor, with two ground-floor entrances on Harrow Street. Other local planning updates include approval for changes to Skirlington Coast Yorkshire, despite opposition to the loss of Skirlington Market’s car park, and a proposed multi-million-pound Kingston Club padel and leisure centre in Brough that could create around 50 jobs.

A planning application has been submitted for The Kingston Club, a proposed multi-million-pound padel-focused leisure facility in Brough. The development includes a two‑storey building with padel courts, gym spaces, a wellbeing spa and a café, supported by the Kingston group of companies. The project is expected to create 50 jobs and operate daily from early morning to late evening. While one resident expressed strong support, two objections cited potential traffic issues, though a transport assessment concluded any impact would be minimal. If approved, construction would begin later this year with opening planned for summer 2027.

Hull’s Guildhall Time Ball will be reinstalled on August 1 following extensive repairs funded by Smith of Derby, which worked with overseas manufacturers to resolve mechanical issues. Hull City Council confirmed a road closure on Lowgate during installation, with internal connection work and testing to follow. Local councillors welcomed the restoration of the historically significant maritime timekeeping feature, with upgraded components designed to ensure long‑term reliability.

Hull councillors from all parties backed a Reform UK proposal for the city to be included as a Local Area Investigation within the national inquiry into grooming gangs. Council leader Mike Ross will write to inquiry chair Baroness Anne Longfield requesting Hull’s inclusion, citing survivor testimony, recent convictions, and past unresolved police investigations as justification. Amendments highlighted ongoing cooperation with the inquiry and called for clarification from police leadership and improvements to the council’s corporate parenting board. Councillors emphasised unity and the need to secure justice for victims after years of systemic failures.

Councillors removed the premises licence for Figo Restaurant and Bar in Hull after Humberside Police raised concerns about serious incidents of violence, lack of CCTV, and risks to public safety. Most of the licensing review meeting was held in private due to ongoing police investigations that may lead to indictable charges. The licensing sub-committee concluded that key objectives, including preventing crime and disorder, had been seriously undermined and determined that no lesser measures would address the issues.

Planning approval has been granted to convert the long-closed East Hull Pools on Holderness Road into 24 apartments with ground-floor leisure facilities and parking. The redevelopment, a resubmission of an earlier lapsed approval, includes mezzanine and rooftop flats constructed within the former swimming pool areas. Developer JRL Holmes Ltd has signed an S106 agreement committing contributions toward affordable housing and open space in Hull.

A 320MW solar farm near Beverley has been granted development consent by the UK government, bypassing local councillors due to its scale. Developed by RWE, the project will span 891 hectares and include biodiversity enhancements, new public access routes and a £4.2m community benefit fund. While developers highlight renewable energy and community advantages, local councillors and the campaign group ERASE strongly oppose the plan, citing landscape damage, safety concerns and cumulative impacts. The approval is part of a wider acceleration of clean energy projects since Labour came to power, with ministers emphasising energy independence and lower costs.

A petition co-launched by MP Dame Diana Johnson and councillor Sharon Hofman seeks to retain Post Office services in Hull’s Bricknell Ward following the planned closure of the Morrisons Daily store that currently hosts the branch. The Post Office has acknowledged the disruption and advertised the vacancy for potential new retail partners. Alternative branches over a mile away have been identified, while Morrisons’ decision forms part of a broader reduction in its convenience-store network after previously acquiring and converting McColl’s sites.