International company to create hundreds of jobs with new city office (From York Press)
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Hiscox Insurance to create hundreds of jobs with new city office
6:00am Friday 28th September 2012 in Jobs News
Exclusive By Julie Hayes, Business editor
An artist’s impression of how the Hiscox headquarters could look. Picture: Steve Dimes
HUNDREDS of new jobs are to be created in York in the biggest single investment in the city since the 1990s, The Press can reveal today.
International insurance giant Hiscox has announced it is opening a new office in the city, as part of a multi-million-pound plan that could eventually create as many as 600 jobs.
The company is to move on to land at Hungate, alongside a new £18 million 262-bedroom hotel.
Hiscox will initially have 125 staff in York, later rising to 300 and potentially 500, while the hotel will provide a further 100 jobs.
The news has been hailed as the biggest single jobs boost for York since CPP moved to Holgate in 1999.
City council leader James Alexander said the investment showed that York was open for business and council chief executive Kersten England said Hiscox's decision to come to York demonstrates the city was a high quality business environment.
She added: "York also has an unparalleled quality of life and is consistently voted one of the top places to live in the country."
Hiscox intends to move into York in February, taking temporary office accommodation while a new office complex is built by local developers S Harrison.
It will move into its new offices, next to the Black Swan Inn in Peasholme Green, in autumn 2014, initially with 125 staff, then recruiting to a total of 300.
About 20 per cent of the jobs will be relocated from other centres, it said, with Alan Millard, chief operating officer for the UK business, relocating from the outset.
The new office will hold about 360 staff but the business has the option to extend to 500 at a later date, said Steve Langan, managing director of Hiscox UK.
Mr Langan said: “We are delighted and excited about our new office development in York.
“This is a significant investment for us, which will see 300 professional jobs come to the city. We looked throughout the UK for a new location, but were swayed by York’s unique combination of excellent infrastructure, well educated workforce and quality of life.”
City of York Council will consider and almost certainly approve the sale of the site to S Harrison at a meeting in October. The site was originally earmarked for the council’s own new headquarters before that plan was abandoned and superseded by the current West Offices development.
Coun James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said: “With the city’s ambition to become a word-class destination for business and visitors alike, the investment signals a significant further step towards this ambition. It is potentially a pivotal moment in the development of the city centre’s future as a truly diverse and more resilient economy. The investment sends a clear message that the city is open for business.
“Bringing new businesses to the city of York has always been top of my agenda.
“From the very first conversation about Hiscox coming to York we have worked hard to support the Hiscox team in making this a reality.
“This is a great example of how City of York Council can work with partners and private companies to direct investment into the city, create more jobs and ultimately boost the city’s economy.”
The new building for Hiscox will be a multi-function office, carrying out a mix of underwriting, sales, customer service, operations, technology and other support functions.
Mr Langan said the business had outgrown its offices in some other locations, like Colchester and London, and saw an opportunity to tap into a new region for quality staff and to get closer to some of its customers.
In the end York was chosen thanks to a combination of a high quality workforce, great communication links with the rest of the UK, competitive costs, a positive and supportive executive, and superb quality of life, he said.
“We were looking for a location with good transport links to London, but outside of the London commuter belt. We needed access to a well educated workforce. So, York was an obvious candidate from the very beginning,” he said.
Company has a £1.4billion turnover
Hiscox, which is headquartered in Bermuda and London, is a £1.4 billion turnover business, which provides insurance against international catastrophes and more steady local and regional business.
The FTSE 250 company employs about 1,250 people across 28 offices in 11 countries, and also operates through Lloyd’s of London and Bermuda, underwriting global insurance and reinsurance business.
City again shows a true resilience
YORK has taken a real battering from the floods in the last couple of days.
Thankfully, the defences did what they were meant to do, and protected most of the city. We have remained very much open for business. That message is reinforced by some great news on the job and inward investment front today.
International insurance firm Hiscox has announced it will be opening a new office in York – bringing with it 300 jobs.
The company will move into temporary accommodation in February, while a new office complex is built for it in Hungate. It hopes to relocate there in autumn 2014, with 125 staff at first, rising to 300 through recruitment.
The proposed development at Hungate will also include an £18 million, 262-bed hotel, expected to create another 100 jobs.
This really is excellent news. It signals that York is a great place in which to invest and do business – so that hopefully Hiscox will be only the first of many firms that decide to locate here.
What’s more, this development may be just what is needed to kick start the redevelopment of the whole Hungate site. If that happens, it could bring further jobs, further inward investment, and help to rejuvenate the entire city centre.
The decision by Hiscox to invest in York has been the result of more than a year of hard work and discussion by the city council’s inward investment team.
That work has paid off. Hopefully this will be just the start of more good economic news to come. The council deserves a pat on the back.
Comments(94)
Goit Stock
says...
8:03am Fri 28 Sep 12
notmyrealname
says...
8:10am Fri 28 Sep 12
Anniegetyourgun
says...
8:16am Fri 28 Sep 12
whitehorse
says...
8:17am Fri 28 Sep 12
piemagico
says...
8:24am Fri 28 Sep 12
The firm is bringing at least 150 high quality jobs to York, kick-starting a development that has been a blot on the city for years. Well done the Press for going to town on this genuinely good news story.
witheryjack
says...
8:29am Fri 28 Sep 12
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
8:39am Fri 28 Sep 12
shed offering 150-200 I say!
Sawday2
says...
8:48am Fri 28 Sep 12
whitehorse wrote:Good businesses for the pub then - what's your problem with that?
Not only is the historic pub ruined by that disgusting lookin building, but come 2014 the bar will be filled with Hiscox Staff
KAT1965
says...
8:57am Fri 28 Sep 12
Goit Stock wrote:I agree that it should sit back slightly from the building line - to afford views of the Black Swan, from the Telephone Exchange end of the street (much like the DEFRA offices). Not sure I would have it half-timbered like some are sort of hinting at though.
This is great news for York, however I do hope that the planners do not let another eye sore swallow up the history of the City, sadly the Hungate area already has it's share of planning blunders, with all that land why does every building have to sit right on the building line, we need to open up the arteries of York and step new builds back from the road creating a more welcome open feel as with the show offices further up at the bollard.
Even AndyD
says...
8:58am Fri 28 Sep 12
bagpuss73
says...
8:59am Fri 28 Sep 12
All this investment on hungate but still not giving shoppers what they want
Is there a conspiracy to block PRIMARK from coming to the City ?
janwood
says...
9:00am Fri 28 Sep 12
yorkie71
says...
9:14am Fri 28 Sep 12
Priapus
says...
9:29am Fri 28 Sep 12
janwood wrote:"Out of character with the surroundings"! Don't make me laugh, with the exception of the Black Swan, St Cuthbert's Church and mainly OK Defra buildings the surroundings are either wasteland or 1960's new brutalist. Anything is an improvement and I quite like the new Hiscox building - not everything has to be mock Tudor.
I hope the artist's impression is a joke! It is hideously out of place and out of character with the surroundings. What does the planning committee think it is doing to our fair city?
Eric Style
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9:35am Fri 28 Sep 12
Woody G Mellor
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9:42am Fri 28 Sep 12
Wall Walker
says...
9:55am Fri 28 Sep 12
yorkie71 wrote:Hear hear ....
Good news for all those being made redundant from Aviva
Just what York needs and also what I need afeter being made redandant by Aviva after 13 years - great timing!
mjr119
says...
10:00am Fri 28 Sep 12
Would it be possible for you to put an archway in the centre of the building to afford access for our carriages on an evening?
BigJon
says...
10:01am Fri 28 Sep 12
BigJon
says...
10:04am Fri 28 Sep 12
Jazzper
says...
10:21am Fri 28 Sep 12
BigJon wrote:No problem.... they will all all have to sign contracts to use bikes!
btw something that no-one seems to have mentioned so far......with several hundred staff at Hiscox and a 200+ room hotel next door.......where's the car parking for 400-500 cars?
hugohackenbush
says...
10:23am Fri 28 Sep 12
Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata.
The smart money is on Calamity.
whitehorse
says...
10:23am Fri 28 Sep 12
Sawday2 wrote:All for supporting pubs. I was being a bit tongue in cheek. Harder to get served there now! Have you seen how small that back room is! Tsk.
whitehorse wrote: Not only is the historic pub ruined by that disgusting lookin building, but come 2014 the bar will be filled with Hiscox StaffGood businesses for the pub then - what's your problem with that?
pedalling paul
says...
10:28am Fri 28 Sep 12
Jazzper wrote:But of course.............
BigJon wrote:No problem.... they will all all have to sign contracts to use bikes!
btw something that no-one seems to have mentioned so far......with several hundred staff at Hiscox and a 200+ room hotel next door.......where's the car parking for 400-500 cars?
witheryjack
says...
10:31am Fri 28 Sep 12
Minsterred
says...
10:54am Fri 28 Sep 12
Could we have several more please?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:32pm Fri 28 Sep 12
This I think is the fourth hotel they will have built, including the one yet to start in Walmgate, and one at the Clifton Hospital site that they did in a JV with Helmsley Group. They have also done many office developments around York, again with John Reeves's Helmsley Group, plus three student accommodation schemes; two in Navigation Road, and one under construction in Carmelite Street.
So lots of experience with commercial developments, but, what about housing ? They used to carry out large housing developments, and did three in York; New Earswick for JRHT, and two JV's with Barratt at Tedder Road and Water Lane. Harrisons are smart, profit-driven developers, and the fact that they no longer touch housing in York is another damning indictment against York Council's Affordable Housing Policy !
Whilst York gets ever more hotels and student accommodation, this exposes York's Council's continued failure on housing !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:38pm Fri 28 Sep 12
hugohackenbush wrote:
Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.
Alexander said, "Bringing new businesses to the city of York has always been top of my agenda"
Because he has killed so many existing York housebuilding businesses off ?
SRimington
says...
12:39pm Fri 28 Sep 12
UsernameNotAvailable
says...
12:45pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Pedro
says...
1:02pm Fri 28 Sep 12
again
says...
1:34pm Fri 28 Sep 12
witheryjack wrote:Totally. The building was probably plucked out of some architects bargain basement portfolio.
No-one is saying the building has to be 'mock-Tudor' or have a carriage drive up the middle, or indeed arrow slits to defend it should the Scots attack. Just that it needs to be respectful in scale, character and finish. As for saying the surrounding area is so grim that another eyesore doesn't matter, with respect that is rubbish. On the contrary, that makes it all the more important that this building is of the right quality.
If Hiscox are interested in my advice I'd suggest that Portakabin could do a better job. And it would probably be cheaper although it may not look it.
richard_york
says...
1:36pm Fri 28 Sep 12
BioLogic
says...
3:38pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Saying the city is "open for business" this week is complete tosh. Half the roads are closed, the traffic is awful and why on earth you would want to holiday here right now I can't think. That doesn't change if you keep saying it.
meme
says...
4:01pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Some good news in a gloomy environment
The design will get sorted. it will necver suit all but jobs are the key today and this is great for those wanting work
So lets celebrate. There are loads of places who would have paid them to go to their city and although i have no doubt that they got a great deal on the land york for once did the right thing and secured substantial inward investments
So credit where its due...Well done CoYC and Harrisons
YorkPatrol
says...
4:02pm Fri 28 Sep 12
nearlyman wrote:What, like a Mosque?
Ghastly looking building.....can we not get something a little more imaginative and more in keeping ?
A Mosque is not "in keeping" but that's going ahead and anyone who said anything about it was branded a racist??
How strange...
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:42pm Fri 28 Sep 12
meme wrote:Yes, well done Harrisons for bringing this company to York. I hope that you persuaded CoYC to give you the land for free, and you make a MASSIVE profit.
York should be shouting from the rafters about this Some good news in a gloomy environment The design will get sorted. it will necver suit all but jobs are the key today and this is great for those wanting work So lets celebrate. There are loads of places who would have paid them to go to their city and although i have no doubt that they got a great deal on the land york for once did the right thing and secured substantial inward investments So credit where its due...Well done CoYC and Harrisons
When it involves getting notches on Alexander's and England's CV's, there is no expense spared and no capping of private companies profits.
On t'other hand, if it involves Merrett and Simpson-Laing, and has owt to do with housing, they wouldn't give you the steam of their p*ss, and would want to cap companies profits.
One easy rule for hotels, offices and student accommodation, and bucket loads for housebuilding ? !!!
Stick your Fairness Commission where the sun don't shine, Alexander !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:46pm Fri 28 Sep 12
BioLogic wrote:Agreed.
Can we please stop using this inane phrase "Open for Business", it s becoming as irritating as it is nauseating and completely meaningless. Saying the city is "open for business" this week is complete tosh. Half the roads are closed, the traffic is awful and why on earth you would want to holiday here right now I can't think. That doesn't change if you keep saying it.
It isn't open for housebuildiers, is it James, Dave and Tracey ?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:56pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Sorry, I missed one hotel they built in Piccadilly - 'HOTEL 53'. This was a D&B project for the site owner, whereas the four others Harrisons are the developers.
Congratulations to York-based Harrisons for landing another office and hotel deal, mirroring what they did at West offices. This I think is the fourth hotel they will have built, including the one yet to start in Walmgate, and one at the Clifton Hospital site that they did in a JV with Helmsley Group. They have also done many office developments around York, again with John Reeves's Helmsley Group, plus three student accommodation schemes; two in Navigation Road, and one under construction in Carmelite Street. So lots of experience with commercial developments, but, what about housing ? They used to carry out large housing developments, and did three in York; New Earswick for JRHT, and two JV's with Barratt at Tedder Road and Water Lane. Harrisons are smart, profit-driven developers, and the fact that they no longer touch housing in York is another damning indictment against York Council's Affordable Housing Policy ! Whilst York gets ever more hotels and student accommodation, this exposes York's Council's continued failure on housing !
Harrisons success and survival during the recession has been marked by their ability to identify the profitable, viable types of development opportunities. In York these are offices, hotels and student accommodation. This is why they have avoided housing, because as everyone knows it isn't viable in York because of the Council's affordable housing policies.
York open for all business....... except.... PRIVATE HOUSEBUILDING ? !!!!
Omega Point
says...
5:02pm Fri 28 Sep 12
hugohackenbush wrote:What a puerile comment. And it is esteemed
Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.
Omega Point
says...
5:04pm Fri 28 Sep 12
YorkPatrol wrote:No they were not, just anti-Muslim. Islam is not a race it is a religion
nearlyman wrote: Ghastly looking building.....can we not get something a little more imaginative and more in keeping ?What, like a Mosque? A Mosque is not "in keeping" but that's going ahead and anyone who said anything about it was branded a racist?? How strange...
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
5:11pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Omega Point wrote:You could say the same, about one of those referred to, by Hugo..... and I don't mean esteemed ?!?!?
hugohackenbush wrote: Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.What a puerile comment. And it is esteemed
You know who I mean..... the attention-seeking, self-publicising, egotistical boy wonder !
Barrance
says...
5:13pm Fri 28 Sep 12
marvell
says...
5:20pm Fri 28 Sep 12
The real work was done by unelected hardworking staff in CoYC.
Well done...
YorkCityLuke
says...
5:34pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
5:45pm Fri 28 Sep 12
marvell wrote:Wrong.
Lets be clear about this - Cllr James Alexander had no role in bringing Hiscox to York. He is basking in reflected glory. The real work was done by unelected hardworking staff in CoYC. Well done...
The hard work was done by Harrisons.
A&E will ensure that any report will be 'cut and shut' to ensure the outcome. Harrisons will have driven a hard bargain to buy the site as cheaply as possible, and will have run rings round the council.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
5:50pm Fri 28 Sep 12
marvell wrote:Other than giving the land away cheaply and agreeing that planning permission will be guaranteed, what is this 'real work' you say the council will have done ?
Lets be clear about this - Cllr James Alexander had no role in bringing Hiscox to York. He is basking in reflected glory. The real work was done by unelected hardworking staff in CoYC. Well done...
Lets be clear, Harrisons have masterminded this deal, not the council.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
6:16pm Fri 28 Sep 12
"Hiscox will initially have 125 staff in York, later rising to 300 and potentially 500."
Where have these job numbers come from ?
Hiscox employ a total of 1,250 staff in eleven countries and have seven offices in the USA, eleven offices in Europe, seven existing offices in mainland UK, plus one in Guernsey and one in Bermuda. Their UK and London operations account for around 56% of the total premiums written. If staff numbers are proportional to premiums, then there will be around 700 in total in the UK, averaging 100 per office. This seems to square with the 125 staff expected at York, but, unless they intend closing other UK offices, how will this grow to 300 or 500 ? Will these offices be only between 25% - 40% full ?
I think there may be some exaggeration here by Alexander and the Council ?
Same old Labour spin ?
PinzaC55
says...
6:21pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
6:24pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
6:32pm Fri 28 Sep 12
PinzaC55 wrote:What ?
I thought the Aviva offices had spare space? Weren't COYC thinking of occupying one of them?
That would involve some joined-up thinking from the council, and an excuse not to sell off a site on the cheap, and allow Harrisons to build another hotel !
Come on, this is York Council. What do you expect ?
They had a Core Strategy that took eight years and cost at least £1.1m, which included redeveloping Piccadilly and they threw that out of the window by instead allowing Oakgate to put new shops at Monks Cross. Don't expect them to stick to a plan when it comes to A&E chasing targets for their CV's !!!
Digeorge
says...
6:43pm Fri 28 Sep 12
8:59am Fri 28 Sep 12
Can they not build a PRIMARK next door ?
HISCOX and PRIMARK well, it is rather like two worlds apart in the customers that they serve. Don't have HISCOX insurance although a few people have tried to sell me a policy and it was expensive!
But I would quite like to see a PRIMARK here.
Anyhow it is good news for York particularly in light of all these redundancies and if you have been looking for a job for ages.
YorkPatrol
says...
7:31pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Omega Point wrote:So being Anti Muslim isn’t deemed racist???
YorkPatrol wrote:No they were not, just anti-Muslim. Islam is not a race it is a religion
nearlyman wrote: Ghastly looking building.....can we not get something a little more imaginative and more in keeping ?What, like a Mosque? A Mosque is not "in keeping" but that's going ahead and anyone who said anything about it was branded a racist?? How strange...
Think about what you are writing before posting you total div
bjb
says...
7:40pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Our city is good for tourists and provides a few low paid tourist associated jobs, when other cities have developed and expanded to make it worth residents while to want to patronise the shops and stores.
Stonebow, Hungate and the area in general used to be dominated by a power station pumping out smoke and steam and warehousing, so how bad is it that a new modern company and a hotel is going to replace an industrial wasteland.
Give us all a break Scarlett and give it a rest. The Monks Cross development is going ahead. Other developments around the city will go ahead because they have to as the city has to keep pace with progress. Progress for residents of York means more jobs, improved shopping facilities, more homes and a better road network. Victorian ideology is not going to achieve this.
Why has progress got to be seen as a dirty word.
PinzaC55
says...
8:16pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:York is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the UK and probably Europe. Are you saying that any new development should be market driven and have no sensitivity to its surroundings? That was what landed us with the Stonebow office block.
I see Scarlett Pimpernel or whatever alias he/she has used in the past is embarking on another manic obsessive council bashing tirade aimed at anything or anyone who want to bring growth and prosperity to the city of York. It is the entrenched attitude that retaining the historic core is good for the city that has been to the detriment of the business and commercial core of our city.
Our city is good for tourists and provides a few low paid tourist associated jobs, when other cities have developed and expanded to make it worth residents while to want to patronise the shops and stores.
Stonebow, Hungate and the area in general used to be dominated by a power station pumping out smoke and steam and warehousing, so how bad is it that a new modern company and a hotel is going to replace an industrial wasteland.
Give us all a break Scarlett and give it a rest. The Monks Cross development is going ahead. Other developments around the city will go ahead because they have to as the city has to keep pace with progress. Progress for residents of York means more jobs, improved shopping facilities, more homes and a better road network. Victorian ideology is not going to achieve this.
Why has progress got to be seen as a dirty word.
dodgydavereturns
says...
8:27pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb
says...
8:28pm Fri 28 Sep 12
I agree, York is a beautiful city. I worked for many years to try to keep it that way, but we must evolve in a way that convinces the local council tax payer that there is something in it for them.
PinzaC55
says...
8:50pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:As a council tax payer I don't believe that COYC cares whether I exist or not as long as it can keep milking me.
No. Stonebow was developed at a time of plenty in the 1960s when there were no demands on businesses and job creation. Today we are faced with with a tast to develop a city fit for its residents or provide only for tourists. We cannot afford the luxury of both. If investment is to be attracted to York we have to decide between out of town or city centre development or even both. If we want to encourage city centre development, we have to remove the strangle hold that says everything has to be aligned with the historic core.
I agree, York is a beautiful city. I worked for many years to try to keep it that way, but we must evolve in a way that convinces the local council tax payer that there is something in it for them.
If Hiscox want to build their office what about the run down end of Piccadilly? Apart from the Red Lion I can't think of any building of any merit until you reach Fishergate Postern.
Come to think of it when COYC move to their new palace what about all the buildings they will vacate?
Even AndyD
says...
8:55pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
9:36pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:No, you read me wrong.
I see Scarlett Pimpernel or whatever alias he/she has used in the past is embarking on another manic obsessive council bashing tirade aimed at anything or anyone who want to bring growth and prosperity to the city of York. It is the entrenched attitude that retaining the historic core is good for the city that has been to the detriment of the business and commercial core of our city.
Our city is good for tourists and provides a few low paid tourist associated jobs, when other cities have developed and expanded to make it worth residents while to want to patronise the shops and stores.
Stonebow, Hungate and the area in general used to be dominated by a power station pumping out smoke and steam and warehousing, so how bad is it that a new modern company and a hotel is going to replace an industrial wasteland.
Give us all a break Scarlett and give it a rest. The Monks Cross development is going ahead. Other developments around the city will go ahead because they have to as the city has to keep pace with progress. Progress for residents of York means more jobs, improved shopping facilities, more homes and a better road network. Victorian ideology is not going to achieve this.
Why has progress got to be seen as a dirty word.
I'm pro-development, and pro-growth.
I think this deal is wonderful.
What I am against, is the way the council mucks things up with their blinkered ideological policies eg. affordable housing. This has potentially lost £1/2billion to York's economy. Enter James Alexander on his fast track career path to Westminster, using York as a stepping stone, and his equally career minded, scottish, feminist side-kick Kersten England. They will break any rule or policy for their own ends and to compensate for the failure with housing. It is this playing fast and loose attitude that hacks me off. It's time they addressed the big prblem - HOUSING, and stopped taking the easy headline grabbing deals like this one, hoping that we will shower them with praise. Their game is transparent, and it's time they did some hard work on the housing issue.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
9:40pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Even AndyD wrote:It's 125, not 300.
300 decent jobs in the city is actually darned good news. Not sure when/if the other 200 will come, but still, in a recession this is like a shot in the arm. Company operates at high-net-worth end of insurance market - now whether you approve of that is up to you (and its relocation of H/O to Bermuda last year) - but this is a company whose watchword is quality. Not a bad coup for York at all, irrespective of how it was pulled off.
bjb
says...
9:41pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
9:57pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:More homes, you say....... when and where ?
I see Scarlett Pimpernel or whatever alias he/she has used in the past is embarking on another manic obsessive council bashing tirade aimed at anything or anyone who want to bring growth and prosperity to the city of York. It is the entrenched attitude that retaining the historic core is good for the city that has been to the detriment of the business and commercial core of our city.
Our city is good for tourists and provides a few low paid tourist associated jobs, when other cities have developed and expanded to make it worth residents while to want to patronise the shops and stores.
Stonebow, Hungate and the area in general used to be dominated by a power station pumping out smoke and steam and warehousing, so how bad is it that a new modern company and a hotel is going to replace an industrial wasteland.
Give us all a break Scarlett and give it a rest. The Monks Cross development is going ahead. Other developments around the city will go ahead because they have to as the city has to keep pace with progress. Progress for residents of York means more jobs, improved shopping facilities, more homes and a better road network. Victorian ideology is not going to achieve this.
Why has progress got to be seen as a dirty word.
The replacement of the industrial wasteland you refer to, was started in 1994, when Foss Development Corporation turned the Adams Hydraulics site into the 140,000 sq ft MAFF headquarters. Hungate Regeneration, a consortium comprising Crosby Lendlease, Evans and Land Securities, then recommenced regenerating the area. So it has been progressing for almost 20-years, and this is just another smaller piece of the jigsaw.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
10:02pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:Paranoid ? No, not at all.
Come on Scarlett, you are paranoid in your anti James Alexander opinions that are obvious to all that read your posts.
Anti James Alexander ? Lets just say that I don't rate his leadership, his rhetoric, his policies, his promises and his performance !
bjb
says...
10:04pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
10:12pm Fri 28 Sep 12
What is happening to this one - it's not mentioned in the article ?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
10:16pm Fri 28 Sep 12
bjb wrote:Paranoia is a delusion where you think everyone dislikes or has it in for you......... more appropriate for James Alexander isn't it ?
Scarlett in my book this equals paranoid.
I just don't rate or trust him !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:45am Sat 29 Sep 12
1. Has the Council optimised the use of this site in terms of jobs ?
2. Would more jobs have been created if the site had been used purely for offices, rather than part of it being another hotel ?
Consider this, taken from a Press article dated 14-Nov-05:-
"The council has announced it wants to build £30 million offices for 1,600 staff , which will include a one-stop shop for customers, in the heart of the massive Hungate development, off Stonebow."
So, the Hiscox office and 262-bed hotel will achieve a maximum of 600 jobs....... sounds like the site could have accommodated as many as 1,000 more jobs ? !!!
Not another calamity, James ?
Even AndyD
says...
8:18am Sat 29 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Article seemed to suggest 125 at first, but 300 a given, with 500 (plus 100 at hotel at some unspecified point in the future). That is how I read it anyway and I'm not about to argue with Mr Langdon (MD at Hiscox) who says the same.
Even AndyD wrote:It's 125, not 300.
300 decent jobs in the city is actually darned good news. Not sure when/if the other 200 will come, but still, in a recession this is like a shot in the arm. Company operates at high-net-worth end of insurance market - now whether you approve of that is up to you (and its relocation of H/O to Bermuda last year) - but this is a company whose watchword is quality. Not a bad coup for York at all, irrespective of how it was pulled off.
We could both be wrong of course - life is a random experience not a pre-written novel. :-)
Even AndyD
says...
9:25am Sat 29 Sep 12
BioLogic wrote:I don't like the phrase either, but for opposite reasons. I was in the city centre yesterday and nothing really was any different. Okay - I only walked between York Explore and Parliament St (and back) - but each time these floods happen, the media seem to think the whole place is under water. Not true. Half the roads? Half!!? Really?
Can we please stop using this inane phrase "Open for Business", it s becoming as irritating as it is nauseating and completely meaningless.
Saying the city is "open for business" this week is complete tosh. Half the roads are closed, the traffic is awful and why on earth you would want to holiday here right now I can't think. That doesn't change if you keep saying it.
So not 'open for business' so much as 'calm down, normal life is frankly very possible'.
Even AndyD
says...
9:32am Sat 29 Sep 12
oi oi savaloy
says...
9:54am Sat 29 Sep 12
bagpuss73 wrote:With any luck! Dreadful shops full of cheap tacky clothing made in sweat shops! And the customers are all chav's!
Can they not build a PRIMARK next door ? All this investment on hungate but still not giving shoppers what they want Is there a conspiracy to block PRIMARK from coming to the City ?
Back to the subject, will this be mostly low paid call centre jobs that suck the life out of the people who do these jobs?
And as for that building, it's horrendous! Was it designed by a woman ? Or was it designed by the same people who did stonebow house or that other horrendous building down goodramgate?
desmond tiblets
says...
10:06am Sat 29 Sep 12
Digeorge
says...
10:21am Sat 29 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:08pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Even AndyD wrote:Okay, we'll see. Hope Alexander will do a head count at some stage ;-)
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Article seemed to suggest 125 at first, but 300 a given, with 500 (plus 100 at hotel at some unspecified point in the future). That is how I read it anyway and I'm not about to argue with Mr Langdon (MD at Hiscox) who says the same. We could both be wrong of course - life is a random experience not a pre-written novel. :-)Even AndyD wrote: 300 decent jobs in the city is actually darned good news. Not sure when/if the other 200 will come, but still, in a recession this is like a shot in the arm. Company operates at high-net-worth end of insurance market - now whether you approve of that is up to you (and its relocation of H/O to Bermuda last year) - but this is a company whose watchword is quality. Not a bad coup for York at all, irrespective of how it was pulled off.It's 125, not 300.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:11pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:20pm Sat 29 Sep 12
"Coun James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said: “With the city’s ambition to become a word-class destination for business and visitors alike, the investment signals a significant further step towards this ambition. It is potentially a pivotal moment in the development of the city centre’s future as a truly diverse and more resilient economy. The investment sends a clear message that the city is open for business. "
A 'word-class' destination ? One that hasn't got a spellcheck obviously ?
If Hiscox are to relocate 125 staff to York, where are they going to live ? Hope Wonder Boy Alexander can get some houses built for them ! They could live in hotels instead - plenty of them being built.
New slogan for York - a nice place to visit, but, you can't live here (no new housing) thanks to York Council's failed housing policies.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:39pm Sat 29 Sep 12
http://stevegalloway
.mycouncillor.org.uk
/2012/09/28/hungate-
sell-off/?utm
Wonder what it's value would be if the Council had sold it for housing ?
This is the hypocrisy of the Council. They expect landowners to sell housing land for nowt, but, will not sell their sites for it. What is needed more urgently in York, jobs or housing ?
Jobs obviously !
Housing doesn't matter to Alexander.
desmond tiblets
says...
7:00pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:you need jobs so you can get on the housing ladder.so jobs must come first.its no good building houses and affordable one's at that if there are no jobs.saying that they built sovereign park near me and it is overflowing with single mothers with no intention of working!!!
According to Steve Galloway's website blog, the site will sell for close to it's £5m valuation....
http://stevegalloway
.mycouncillor.org.uk
/2012/09/28/hungate-
sell-off/?utm
Wonder what it's value would be if the Council had sold it for housing ?
This is the hypocrisy of the Council. They expect landowners to sell housing land for nowt, but, will not sell their sites for it. What is needed more urgently in York, jobs or housing ?
Jobs obviously !
Housing doesn't matter to Alexander.
Lineker's Lad
says...
7:02pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Calm down dears, calm down.
Tug job
says...
12:08am Sun 30 Sep 12
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"Attention-seeking and egotistical"? Oh, the irony!
Omega Point wrote:You could say the same, about one of those referred to, by Hugo..... and I don't mean esteemed ?!?!? You know who I mean..... the attention-seeking, self-publicising, egotistical boy wonder !hugohackenbush wrote: Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.What a puerile comment. And it is esteemed
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:31am Sun 30 Sep 12
Tug job wrote:Not mutually exclusive characteristics, are they ?
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"Attention-seekOmega Point wrote:You could say the same, about one of those referred to, by Hugo..... and I don't mean esteemed ?!?!? You know who I mean..... the attention-seeking, self-publicising, egotistical boy wonder !hugohackenbush wrote: Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.What a puerile comment. And it is esteemed
ing and egotistical"? Oh, the irony!
PinzaC55
says...
12:38am Sun 30 Sep 12
janwood wrote:Trying to get something built on the Hungate site as quickly as possible to cover up their embarrasment?
I hope the artist's impression is a joke! It is hideously out of place and out of character with the surroundings. What does the planning committee think it is doing to our fair city?
PinzaC55
says...
11:33am Sun 30 Sep 12
They made a better job of the windows though.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:35pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Tug job wrote:No ego involved with me, mate. You don't see my photo in the Press every week. Equally, I am not seeking attention for myself; I am drawing attention to the failure of the council and certain councillors on housing policy and delivery.
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"Attention-seekOmega Point wrote:You could say the same, about one of those referred to, by Hugo..... and I don't mean esteemed ?!?!? You know who I mean..... the attention-seeking, self-publicising, egotistical boy wonder !hugohackenbush wrote: Im waiting for one or more of our esteem councillors to claim the credit for this. Its a toss up between calamity James or Emiliano Zapata. The smart money is on Calamity.What a puerile comment. And it is esteemed
ing and egotistical"? Oh, the irony!
meme
says...
11:29am Mon 1 Oct 12
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:28pm Mon 1 Oct 12
meme wrote:If what you say is true, then that comes as no surprise, not when they gave away the land to JRHT at Derwenthorpe for around 25% of it's market value.
I believe they virtually gave the site away to get the jobs. I'm not saying I disagree with that policy but that's the facts
How come Steve Galloway says that he understands that the land is being sold for around it's £5m valuation ?
Have Alexander and England almost given it away because they are so desperate to do something good for a change ? or, are they just rubbish at doing deals ? Probably both !!!!
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:49pm Tue 2 Oct 12
They are registered in Bermuda, and they only paid £1m tax on their pre-tax profit of £125.8m for the six months to 30/06/12. Most of their business is done in the UK, and they are run by UK-based Directors including their English Chairman Robert Hiscox.
So we have a Labour Council helping a business by giving them a cheap land deal for their offices, and this company is hardly paying any tax.
On the other hand, we have York-based Persimmon Homes, who not only pay 24% corporation tax on their profits, but also are being asked to provide 35% of the housing on their Germany Beck site as affordable for which they are paid less than cost and have to provide the land for free.
What does this say about the policies of Alexander and England ?
They held a company who don't pay their fair share of taxes come to York, and they expect another that has been based here since 1976, to be taxed twice, and prevent them bringing extra jobs to the city by maintaining greedy unworkable social housing requirements.
WHAT A DISGRACE !
bjb
says...
2:38pm Tue 2 Oct 12
Have you not realised that the words that you and your anti-council chums spout are falling on deaf ears. Go live somewhere else if you don't like the way our city is run.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:25pm Tue 2 Oct 12
bjb wrote:No chance.
Put a sock in it Scarlett or whatever other name you are known as when you are trolling the press site spouting your manic rantings. If you don't like the council, why don't you put up for election and call people names to their face in the council chamber. You are only prepared to vomit forth your hate under the cloak of anonimity. Have you not realised that the words that you and your anti-council chums spout are falling on deaf ears. Go live somewhere else if you don't like the way our city is run.
I am a York resident, born here, staying here.
The council are public servants, and I can say what I like.
I not anonymous to the Councillors who I criticise - they know who I am.
Who are you to tell me what to do, where to go, and what to say ?
Are you just a pleb ?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:53pm Tue 2 Oct 12
#COYCdidntdotheirhom
ework !
Ichabod76
says...
4:11pm Tue 2 Oct 12
bjb wrote:So is it only Councillors who can criticise Councillors now ?
Put a sock in it Scarlett or whatever other name you are known as when you are trolling the press site spouting your manic rantings. If you don't like the council, why don't you put up for election and call people names to their face in the council chamber. You are only prepared to vomit forth your hate under the cloak of anonimity.
Have you not realised that the words that you and your anti-council chums spout are falling on deaf ears. Go live somewhere else if you don't like the way our city is run.
or is it you just don't like the unpleasant truth ?
Hoofarted
says...
10:40am Thu 4 Oct 12
Take note all and remember... it's a beautiful world if you want it to be
nearlyman says...
7:57am Fri 28 Sep 12