Detailed surveying as part of Hepworth’s Arcade repair and renovation project will soon take place thanks to Hull City Council being awarded a Project Development Grant worth £96,000 from Historic England.

The surveys will help the council to understand the most suitable repair methods to preserve the heritage of the Grade II listed arcade.

The grant will allow greater focus on areas that need specialist repair works such as the stonework.

The funding will also cover developing designs for the wider repair and renovation of Hepworth’s Arcade and will ultimately lead to a planning application and tendering the construction works.

Current and prospective tenants of the arcade will be consulted on plans as design works get underway in the coming months.

The scheme aims to repair and reinvigorate all the units to achieve full occupancy, as well as bringing unused upper floor space back into use.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The council welcomes this investment from Historic England. Hepworth’s Arcade is a much-loved retail destination in Hull’s Old Town and this support from Historic England will help the council to ensure its regeneration project is a success.”

Craig Broadwith, Historic Places Advisor at Historic England, added: “This beautiful Victorian arcade has been a favourite shopping destination for the residents of Hull for more than a century."

“This grant from Historic England will fund the first step towards repairing and reinvigorating this stunning building for generations of shoppers to come.”