Work begins on new apartments plan for former Debenhams store

CITY CENTRE LIVING: How the refurbished former Debenhams store will look

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Clearance of the former Debenhams building in the city centre has started and construction “will soon be underway” to transform the former department store into apartments.

It will see the creation of 178 apartments as part of DBG Group Holdings’ multi-million-pound investment in the city, Hull City Council said.

The building on Prospect Street has stood vacant since 2021 but is now undergoing redevelopment by DBG Group.

The project was made possible by the council agreeing new lease terms with Gateway Hull Limited and DBG Group to allow for residential use, alongside the retention of an element of ground-floor retail use.

Planning permission was granted by the council in December 2025 and the revised lease structure provided the developer with the security required to obtain development funding and to enable comprehensive refurbishment.

DBG has already invested more than £20m across a number of projects in Hull, including the completed Dunedin House (The Merchant) on Percy Street, and Shirethorn House (City Point), which have created more than 100 new city centre homes.

The redevelopment of the former Debenhams building is anticipated to attract a further £3.7m of private investment into the city.

DBG has also submitted plans for the former Circus Circus building on Ferensway which, if approved, would see an additional 164 homes and around 5,000sqm of commercial space created.

NEW HOMES: The completed City Point development at the former Shirethorn House

The total investment for all of these projects is predicated to surpass £75m.

Tom Danby, managing director of DBG Group, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Hull City Council to bring forward the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building, which marks an important step in the continued regeneration of the city centre.

“We anticipate our total investment in Hull will be more than £75 million and it was a pleasure to work with council officers whose support has been crucial in bringing the deal over the line.

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to deliver high-quality developments that support the cities ongoing growth.”

The Debenhams redevelopment and DBG Group’s investment supports the council’s wider city-centre regeneration objectives, including the requirement for about 2,500 new city centre homes, as well as delivering a key part Hull’s City Centre Vision in relation to the ‘Prospect Triangle’ and Ferensway.

Chris Jackson, director for regeneration and partnerships at the council, said: “Regeneration of the former Debenhams building is a great example of the public and private sectors working together.

“It demonstrates the council’s commitment to meeting its target of an additional 2,500 city centre homes, as well as continuing to deliver the potential set out in our City Centre Vision.

“This investment from DBG Group also shows confidence that the private sector has in Hull and will help to boost our city centre residential offer and economy.”