Delivered by CR Reynolds, the £21m revamp of the city centre public space is complete and accessible to the public from Friday.
Designed by Southern Green Landscape Architects in collaboration with Purcell, work started in 2022 and includes new boundary walls, paving, accessible ramps and steps, extensive landscaping, and tree planting.
Queen’s Gardens sits on the site of Hull’s former Queen’s Dock, which was filled in during the 1930s using a variety of materials.
Recently, structural deterioration had led to sections of the gardens being closed to the public because of health and safety concerns and once work started, the scale of improvements became apparent.
A significant proportion of the project has focused on complex engineering works beneath the surface to improve ground conditions, and rebuilding the historic perimeter walls, which were in danger of collapsing.
A section of the gardens reopened last month as part of a phased programme, with the reopening on Friday signaling the return of the gardens in their entirety.
Queen’s Gardens also provides a pedestrian link between the Hull Maritime Museum and North End Shipyard, the new home for the Arctic Corsair, which are both central elements of the wider Hull Maritime regeneration programme.
Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Queen’s Gardens is one of Hull’s most loved green spaces, and it’s fantastic to be able to fully reopen it to the public following such a significant and carefully delivered transformation.
“This project developed into much more than was originally proposed when it was first set out.
“Whilst the original plan just focused on improvements along Guildhall Road, as works progressed and the deteriorated condition of the historic dock structure beneath the gardens was fully uncovered, it became clear that much more extensive work was needed throughout the site to properly repair it, secure the long‑term future of the gardens and deliver an amazing high quality space Hull residents deserve.
“Addressing these challenges head‑on has ensured the gardens are safe, welcoming, and built to last.”
Ros Southern, director at Southern Green Landscape Architects, said: “This project has not been about papering over the cracks. Hull has done a proper job, starting with the required engineering, making tough decisions such as removing unsafe trees, and then adding high‑quality design and materials to create a park landscape that will last for many years to come.
“Echoes of the original dock layout are now more strongly evident, and we have worked with some amazing artists to embed features rooted in Hull’s maritime heritage. Look out for restored stone carvings, scrimshaw artwork and seafaring imagery featuring whales, belugas and seals.
“The planting is now more diverse, with a wide range of shapes and sizes including many British native species sourced from UK nurseries. The rain gardens not only look great but also play an important role in managing surface water.
“As the gardens mature, there will be open grassy spaces, shady trees to sit beneath, ponds and fountains, and plenty of flowers providing colour and supporting pollinators such as bees and insects.
“We feel very honoured to have played a part in this incredible project, and we know people in Hull have been incredibly patient while such a complex design and installation has taken place.”
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