YORK CENTRAL: have your say on the biggest development in York for decades

It consists of about 180 acres of 'brownfield' land, much of it previously used for railway operations.

It is arguably the most important city centre brownfield site anywhere in Europe, says city council leader Chris Steward, with the potential to provide more than 2,000 desperately-needed new homes, office space for up to 7,000 people, new city squares, shops, bars and pubs, and an extension to the National Railway Museum.

It could also make it possible to redevelop the entrance to York railway station - ending the shambolic mess that is Tea Room Square, where pedestrians, cyclists, cars, taxis and buses all compete for too little space.

But there are real challenges and risks, too. The council believes that, after years of trying, redeveloping the site is now finally viable: especially since it was granted Enterprise Zone status late last year.

Artist's impression of how a public space in the redeveloped York Central could look

Nevertheless, there are reasons why it has taken so long to get to this stage.

The whole area is ringed by railway lines - making it very difficult to get into. Any redevelopment will mean building expensive new roads and bridges. These will lead out onto already congested streets such as Holgate Road - sparking fears about fresh traffic problems.

Some well-loved buildings might also have to be demolished: only this week, the York Railway Institute spoke out about its concerns that some of its sporting facilities in Queen Street could be at risk.

Over the last few weeks, the city council has been holding a series of consultation drop-in sessions, where local people have been able to find out more and put questions to council officers.

There will be one more next week - at St Barnabas Church in Jubilee Terrace from 6.30pm-8.30pm on Thursday. There is also a standing public exhibition in the foyer at the council's headquarters in West Offices.

You have until February 15 to make your views known: you can see below exactly how to do that. The authority will then be drawing up a more detailed statutory planning framework for the site, which will be consulted on again over the summer.

For now, the 'vision' for the site remains quite fuzzy. Nothing is set in stone, says Tracey Carter, the authority's assistant director for finance, property and procurement. "We're just saying this is the kind of thing that might be done in there," she says.

But, if you have views or concerns about this huge site, it is all the more important you should express them now - before any concrete proposals are drawn up.

Below, we examine some of the key issues. But first, here's how you can have your say...

HAVE YOUR SAY

There will be a final consultation workshop at St Barnabas Church in Jubilee Terrace next Thursday, from 6.30-8.30pm. There, you'll be able to see outlines of some of the key proposals, and talk to council staff to get more information. You'll also be able to fill in feedback forms there and then.

There is also a standing public exhibition in the foyer at the council's headquarters in West Offices, open daily during office hours, where again you can fill in a feedback form.

If you cannot make either of these, you can view the proposals on the council's website - www.york.gov.uk - by typing 'York Central Consultation' into the search box that comes up.

You have until February 15 to submit your views. You can do so by:

calling 01904 551550

emailing yorkcentral@york.gov.uk

writing to York Central Consultation, City of York Council, York YO1 7ZZ

filling in an online form at york.gov.uk/consultations

KEY ISSUES

Here, we look at some of the key issues/ options being proposed. Have a look - and then, if you have strong views, make sure you let the council know...

How much housing and how much new office space should there be?

The council's 'vision' includes a mix of offices, houses and flats, hotels, shops, bars, cafés and car parking. But how much housing should there be - and how much new office space?

Artist's impression of how York Central could look following development

The 'vision' puts forward four options:

• 120,000 square metres of office space (enough for 7,700 people) plus 1,000 homes
• 100,000 square metres of office (6,400 people) plus 1,500 homes
• 80,000 square metres of office (5,100 people) plus 2,000 homes
• 60,000 square metres of office (3,800 people) plus 2,500 homes

How high should buildings be?
The vision includes the following guidance:

• Houses - up to 4 storeys high
• Blocks of flats - up to 8 storeys
• Offices - up to 10 storeys

New roads

The only access to the site by road at the moment is via Leeman Road. The vision contains a number of key proposals/ options:

• A new road into the site from Holgate Road, crossing a new bridge
  • A new link through the site to connect with the western end of Leeman Road
  • 'Bus gates' on Leeman Road in the daytime, to restrict traffic getting into the site that way, to make it more cycle and pedestrian friendly
  • Possible closure of the eastern end of Leeman Road that runs through the NRM to allow the rail museum to expand.

• Graphic showing possible new roads into and out of York Central

   

  York railway station improvements

  The main entrance to the railway station is poor and doesn't meet modern standards, the vision says. Not many would disagree.

  The aim is to take advantage of any York Central development to completely rearrange the whole area in front of the station, including turning Tea Room Square into a pedestrian square.

  The authority has two options for doing this, one which would involve demolishing Queen Street bridge, one which wouldn't:

• Keep Queen Street bridge. The drop off point and short stay car park would relocate to the south side of the station entrance. The bus interchange would stay where it is, and Tea Room Square would be partially pedestrianised, with access for taxis and deliveries only

• Demolish Queen Street bridge. 

• Graphic showing how the station entrance could be redesigned if the Queen Street bridge was demolished

  The bridge would be pulled down, and replaced with a road at ground level. There would be a new road access into the station, the short stay car park and drop off point would move to the south side of the entrance, the bus interchange would be rearranged, and Tea Room Square would be expanded and made fully pedestrian.

   

  Expansion of the NRM

  The section of Leeman Road which runs through the NRM, effectively cutting it in half, could be closed, allowing the two halves of the museum to be joined. There could be a new rail link running direct into the museum's Station Hall.

   

  Three new public squares

  The vision proposes three new public squares near the railway station: one immediately in front of the station, and two just behind. One of these, near the NRM, would be for 'events'.

   

  Demolition of existing buildings

  The York Central site has a history as a 'major rail yard of national importance', the vision says. For this reason it stresses that, where possible, existing buildings 'of value' should be kept, refurbished, and incorporated into the new development. "However, it may not be possible to retain all of the existing buildings," the vision concedes. This is what has the York RI worried.

  York RI president Frank paterson. There are fears some RI buildings could be under threat

   

  Community stadium?

  No mention at all of putting the community stadium in York Central, of course. It's a 'done deal' out at Huntington - even though there are constant delays there and not a stone has yet been laid. Many people have long thought York Central, so close to the railway station, would be the ideal place for the stadium, however: it could even have its own connecting branch railway line.

  It won't happen, of course, so don't dare even suggest it. Although, on second thoughts... why not?

   

  The people's view

  Most of those who attended a consultation drop-in session at York Railway Station on Wednesday generally welcomed the idea of developing York Central. But there were genuine concerns, too.

  Consultation: local people at the drop-in session at the railway station on Wednesday

  Stuart Kay is chairman of the York Bridge Club, which meets at Holgate Road - near where a new access road into York Central would be put.

  "I'm supportive in principle," he said. "It needs to be developed. The site has been standing for a long time, and it would be good for York. Access to the station is very poor, and this would be a major opportunity to open it up.

  "But the traffic on Holgate Road would be a major concern."

  Oliver Chamings, from York, was also glad to see something happening. But there wasn't enough detail to be clear about what was being proposed, he said. And he was worried that the 'zoned' approach to dividing up housing, office and retail space on the site would result in new houses being a long way away from services.

  He also admitted that he didn't have much faith in the consultation process, or that people's views would be taken into account. "I felt short-changed on the Terry's consultation."

  Graham Collett, from Copmanthorpe, was also pleased to see progress - and said he had been told that a 'crazy plan' to put an access road through Railway Institute buildings would not go ahead. But he said too little time had been allowed for consultation. "It is a bit of a rushed job."

  Chris Edghill of the Guildhall planning panel said he was concerned there wouldn't be enough quality, affordable housing. He was also worried about the idea that some buildings could be 10 storeys high. That would damage what made York special, he said. "The reason people want to come to York is because it is unique."