Planning permission awarded for £2bn expansion of York City Centre
11th September 2026 The first phase of development at urban regeneration scheme York Central has received planning approval from the City of York Council. McLaren Development, in partnership with Arlington Real Estate, will now look to deliver over 1,000 new homes alongside a commercial district, a hotel, and a new station entrance at the site. New public squares, a public park, and a network of courtyards, cycle ways, and footpaths will also be created to connect the new 110-acre quarter to the rest of the city. Construction will start on site next year following site investigation works, which will begin imminently. In addition to the previously approved Museum Square, and 134,000 sq ft Government Property Agency hub, the new approval provides for 67,447 sq ft of retail and leisure space, 1,014 mixed-tenure homes, a 213-bedroom hotel, new parkland and public realm, and a 99,190 sq ft innovation hub. The first buildings are expected to be completed and available for occupation by early 2029, with all of phase one estimated to be complete during 2030. David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “York Central is going to transform the city, delivering thousands of much-needed new homes, including affordable housing, and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. “That’s why...