Next steps for one of UK's largest regeneration schemes in York backed

An impression of the new Western Entrance in York Central (Image: York Central Ltd)

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ONE of the UK's largest regeneration schemes which is taking place in York has taken a step forward.

The sale of two parcels of land at York Central for affordable homes and a bridge and designating the site as a regional development area have been backed.

Cllr Claire Douglas, City of York Council's Labour leader, said it was great to see the development moving forward as it attracts interest from significant national investors.

But opposition Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said there were questions about the financial benefits of the move, the viability of parts and the approach to affordable homes.

Tuesday, October 6's decision comes after plans for more than 1,000 homes, a hotel and a new western entrance at York Station at York Central were backed in September.

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An Innovation Hub office space, a new park and public square were also approved by the council's Planning Committee in September.

Plans for a new Wilton Rise pedestrian and cycling bridge linking York Central with Holgate were approved in July.

The council's executive approved the sale of land at the Fermetol Trading Estate to York Central Ltd for 37 affordable homes and a 387sqm convenience store, following a land valuation.

The site, behind Hardisty Mews, was bought by the council in 2016 for around £1m.

Land in Upper St Paul's Terrace is also set to be sold as part of the project to install the new footbridge.

Councillors also backed making York Central one of three Mayoral Development Zones in North Yorkshire, along with Scarborough and Selby.

A council report stated the land sales were critical to allowing the regeneration project to progress.

An impression showing how York Central could look (Image: York Central Ltd)

It added the Mayoral Development Zone designation would help to attract funding and investment to the site.

But Liberal Democrat Cllr Ayre said the allocation of up to £8m of the £10m set aside for development zones to Scarborough would leave York Central and Selby sharing £2 million.

He added a York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority report stating there were issues with the viability of the proposed Innovation Hub was concerning.

Cllr Ayre said: "We support the Mayoral Development Zone designation but the executive needs to be clear about what it delivers for York as well as the current risks.

"The affordable housing requirement increases the number of affordable homes on this part of the site but that could be offset by having less units elsewhere and the developer would still be policy complaint.

"This will also concentrate affordable homes in one area of the site at a time when we're working to ensure there's a mix of housing across the development."

Officials told the executive affordable homes on the site would come on top of those planned across the development.

They added work to ensure the goal of making 40 per cent of homes across the site affordable was ongoing.

Cllr Douglas said the administration was continuing to make the case for the Innovation Hub and was working in partnership with York Central's developers and other partners on the scheme.

She added interest was being expressed in the project nationally now the first phase of the plans had been approved, with York Central set to bring in around £2 billion in investment overall.

Cllr Douglas said: "The development zone is there as an indicator to the market of the strategic importance of the site and its about us being able to speak about it as a significant development area.

"York Central is currently doing well and it's really good to see it moving forward.

"There's a lot of optimism about it around the country, it's showing that investment can come into projects when that isn't the case in other places."