Wykeland starts work on £2m restoration project

Wykeland Group has begun a £2m project to restore historic buildings in Hull.The company is aiming to breathe new life into the Castle Street Chambers building and former Earl De Grey pub.Castle Street Chambers, which is adjacent to the Connexin Live arena in Hull city centre, was built in 1900 as offices for Hull steamship owners and brokers Messrs G R Sanderson.The grade II-listed building has been unoccupied since the 1970s and has fallen into dereliction. It has been supported by protective scaffolding for more than 20 years.The neighbouring Earl De Grey, is one of the oldest pubs in Hull, dating back to the 1840s, and was once a popular haunt for seafarers from around the world who docked in the city.In 2020, the grade II-listed Earl De Grey’s historic frontage was removed brick by brick, before being placed into storage, prior to the start of the ongoing £350m A63 Castle Street improvement scheme to relieve congestion on the main route through Hull.A restoration project on Castle Street Chambers is now underway which, once completed, will incorporate the reconstructed Earl De Grey.Hull-based Wykeland Group is behind the project, which is set to create more than 6,000 sq ft of commercial space. Wykeland has liaised with National Highways, Historic England and Hull City Council to bring the restoration project forward.Wykeland development director Jonathan Stubbs said: “Castle Buildings is one of the most complex and challenging restoration projects we’ve undertaken.”Having been unused for decades, the building is understandably in a very poor condition. Since acquiring the site in recent years, we have worked hard to bring forward this project which is now coming to fruition”That has included taking down the Earl De Grey before the A63 works, while retaining its listed frontage in order that it can be reinstated as part of this exciting development.”In all of our restoration projects, protecting and enhancing heritage is at the forefront of our approach. That is certainly the case with Castle Street Chambers and the Earl De Grey.”The full restoration project is expected to take around a year, with completion due in early 2025.The Yorkshire Demolition and Reclamation Company, based in Thorngumbald, East Yorkshire, was appointed to carry out the first phase of the restoration. The company will first remove the scaffolding and hoarding surrounding Castle Street Chambers, before carrying out work on the internal strip-out of the building.Hull-based Voase Builders was successful in a competitive tender process to carry out the restoration of Castle Street Chambers and the rebuilding of the Earl de Grey.Grimsby-based ID Architecture has supported the project through a variety of services. LHL Group, which has offices in Hessle, East Yorkshire, has acted as the employer’s agent for Wykeland.