WORKING together can ensure York is a ‘fantastic player’ in the UK and the world, an audience was told at the launch of the city’s economic strategy.

Collaboration and the development of York Central were the key elements in the plans put forward at yesterday’s event at the city’s railway station, where speakers highlighted eight ‘to do’ points in the blueprint for the period up to 2020.

The points are to deliver the York Central Enterprise Zone; deliver a Local Plan that supports a high-value economy; take practical steps to develop and retain talent in the city; drive university and research-led business growth in key sectors; lobby for investment in key transport networks; use local business rate freedoms to drive high value growth; make a fresh loud statement of cultural and visual identity; and bring people and businesses together in creative low-cost ways.

The objectives are intended to address key challenges in York, which have been identified as stagnant productivity and falling wage levels.

Justine Andrew, of professional services company KPMG, which has just been appointed as commercial advisor for the crucial York Central development, said ‘all the pieces in the jigsaw’ were there for the city to succeed.

Her firm had assessed each UK city for its potential and York had come seventh. She said: “If we can all come together York can be a fantastic player in the Northern Powerhouse, in the UK and globally.”

The event was launched by City of York Council deputy leader Keith Aspden, who said many different people and groups had already been involved in drawing up the strategy.

He said: “If we are focused and successful in delivering he eight ‘to dos’ in the strategy we will make a significant difference.”

Neil Ferris, the council’s director of city and environmental services, said: “Now, I believe, is the time for the delivery of York Central.”

He said the brownfield site near the railway station was the ‘jewel in the crown’ in terms of economic opportunities, having been earmarked to provide 100,000 square metres of business accommodation and 7,000 jobs, as well as 1,500 new homes.

Mr Ferris said the council had produced a draft Local Plan which prioritised brownfield sites, allowing development in the green belt that was sensitive to existing communities and also to the city’s needs.

Fay Treloar, from York St John University, said a new service had been launched to improve connections between businesses and York’s colleges and universities to help allow more graduates to stay in the city. Tim Frenneaux, from York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP, spoke about the need for research done locally to benefit the business community.

Stirling Kimkeran, chairman of York Economic Partnership, spoke about the need to improve transport links, both by rail and on the York ring road, calling on those present: “Join in to make the case to Government to unlock York Central and also to unlock the ring road.”

Steve Brown, managing director of Make It York, stressed the need to provide infrastructure, saying: “We can encourage businesses to come to York, but we need somewhere to put them - that’s why York Central is so important to the city.”