Councillors have approved the next steps to creating a large-scale music and events centre in Hull and now hope to have design concepts completed and a contractor appointed by the end of this year, with the venue scheduled to open in 2018.

The council has committed £36.2m towards the cost of building the complex on the site behind Princes Quay shopping centre whose owners are committed to deliver new retail facilities and a hotel as part of the overall scheme.

Its main auditorium will rival the likes of the Harrogate International Centre and 02 Academy Leeds and include 2,000 sq m of exhibition space, a restaurant, dressing rooms with en-suite facilities and an outside broadcast space.

Councillor Steven Bayes said: “A high-quality, purpose-built events and conference centre is absolutely essential to making Hull a top visitor destination and to secure a long-term legacy from our year as UK City of Culture.

“Put simply, a city of Hull’s size needs a facility such as this.”