Hull Citybuild, Hull’s urban regeneration company, was last night awarded ‘Regeneration Organisation of the Year’ award at the national Regeneration Awards 2007 sponsored by Regenerate, Building, Building Design, and Property Week. Hull Citybuild was up against tough competition from New East Manchester, Meden Valley Making Places and Tees Valley Regeneration.
Hull Citybuild was described by the judges as, “an outstanding team of people who have convinced people Hull is a good place to invest”. The judges said Hull Citybuild has broken the mould of the traditional urban regeneration company by expanding into a wider economic role. This was achieved with a close working relationship with the private sector which on the St Stephen’s development alone saw the creation of 2,500 new jobs.
John Holmes, Chief Executive of Citybuild, collected the award at the ceremony last night held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London in front of an audience of 1200 respected industry figures.
John Holmes commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award as it signifies that Hull Citybuild is recognised, at a national level, as demonstrating delivery on the ground of complex, mixed-use projects. With additional major investments due to be announced in the next few weeks there are clear signs that investor confidence in Hull is growing.”
He added: “This prestigious national award acknowledges the work of the Citybuild team on behalf of our partners. It will help raise the profile of both the city and our developments and sends a message out loud and clear that Hull means business.”
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Notes to Editors:
Hull Citybuild:
On 21 June 2007, Hull City Council approved the creation of a new City Development Company (CDC) in Hull. Detailed plans for starting up the new company are well advanced and are being shared with local businesses and other key stakeholders, such as Yorkshire Forward.
The proposed new City Development Company, Hull Forward, will build on the existing success of Citybuild and Hull City Council and will look to fast track the delivery of economic development; regeneration schemes and projects across the city.
The key features of the City Development Company (CDC) will be:
- To act as the ‘custodian’ of a citywide Economic Masterplan;
- To operate at a citywide level;
- To develop, co-ordinate and deliver economic and physical regeneration, under the Masterplan arrangements;
- To continue, with the support of the business community, to promote Hull to achieve sustainable economic growth;
- As a company, limited by guarantee, to represent all stakeholder interests;
- To be publicly accountable and to have a private sector chair – the deputy chair will be the Hull City Council Portfolio Holder for the Economy;
- To build on Citybuild’s current successes;
- To provide a coordinated and focused leadership model for economic regeneration.
Hull City Council will continue to take the lead in setting the economic strategy for the city and manage Hull’s overall investment programme.
Citybuild’s work will continue and will evolve into Hull Forward over coming months. It is anticipated, subject to the necessary approvals and the agreement of funding, that the new company Hull Forward will be fully operational from 1st April 2008.