Planning permission awarded for £2bn expansion of York City Centre
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 it’s a big moment to see these plans move forward. Soon we’ll see York Central take shape and transform how people see our county.
“This £2 billion project will strengthen our links across the North, and ensure York remains a fantastic place to live, work, and invest for decades to come.”
Cllr Claire Douglas, leader of City of York Council, added: “This is fantastic news for York. Planning approval for phase 1 of York Central is another major step forward for one of the most significant regeneration projects in our city’s history. It brings us closer to delivering the homes, jobs and opportunities that residents want to see and to growing York’s economy, which will benefit communities across our fine city for generations to come.”
John Gatley, chief executive officer of McLaren Property Group, said: “This is a major step forward in securing a prosperous future for the proud and historic city of York. While it’s the culmination of many years hard work by a committed public and private sector partnership, the real work starts now as we have the green light to convert our vision to reality.
“Now, we look forward to starting work on delivering this brand-new city quarter for the people of York, which will not only provide them with much needed homes and jobs, but will also attract new investment and interest to the city and wider region, leaving a legacy that we can be proud of.”