A planning application has been submitted to develop the York Central site in the heart of the city.
The application includes plans for new residential, cultural and business neighbourhoods adjacent to the train station in one of the country’s largest brownfield sites. A partnership has been put together to drive the project forward and, if approves, the scheme is expected to add around £1.1 billion to the city’s economy, increasing it by 20% in the process.
A spokesperson for the partnership said: “This is a huge step forward in the delivery of York Central and in the future of York as we seek permission for the masterplan. A positive decision will unlock this underused piece of land and demonstrate a commitment to seeing it brought forward for the good of the city and its residents. We would encourage as many people as possible to view the plans and make comments to the planning authority within the consultation period. This is part of playing an active role in how York Central evolves, as the masterplan is the blueprint for future development on the site, but what actually gets built can still be shaped.”
Once the application is validated, a statutory 30-day consultation period will take place. Although the scheme will take around 15 to 20 years to be delivered, it will bring into commercial use one of the city’s most under-utilised sites.
The partnership spokesperson added: “York Central has the potential to deliver major economic growth for York by creating a new high-quality commercial quarter with its own entrance to the city’s railway station. It is vital that this opportunity is taken to attract growing sectors such as technology, bio-medical and creative industries as York’s city centre office market supply is currently restricted by the historic nature of its traditional core. The new commercial hub will offer up to 112,000 square metres of floor-space, aswell as more flexible workspaces for SMEs and start-ups.
York Central Partnership is a collaboration between Homes England, Network Rail, the National Railway Museum and York Council.
