Stadium and shops could boost York economy, says new report (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Stadium and shops could boost York economy, says new report
3:16pm Sunday 6th May 2012 in News
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
Katie Stewart, of City of York Council
TWO new stores and a community stadium on the edge of York would send a positive message about the city’s ambition, according to economic chiefs.
Councillors are next week due to debate controversial proposals by Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd for a £90 million retail development including John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores, alongside a new ground for York City FC and York City Knights.
City of York Council’s economic development team has said approving the Monks Cross scheme and attracting “new development by blue chip companies” would show York is “open for business”.
Opponents have claimed the development would force city-centre businesses to close or move.
Katie Stewart, the council’s head of economic development, said in a report that York was now “punching below its weight” and must avoid becoming “complacent”, as its competitiveness compared to other parts of the UK in a 2010 national study had been relatively poor.
She said the retail element of Oakgate’s plans could boost York’s economy by between £12.4 million and £18.2 million a year, depending on its impact on existing businesses, while the stadium could bring an extra £1.4 million a year to the city initially and this may rise to £1.7 million by 2023. The findings also estimated construction work on the whole project could provide a “temporary stimulus” of up to £11 million a year.
The report said that if the Monks Cross scheme is approved, the city centre may face “challenges” in keeping and attracting investment if it starts leaking trade, and that plans to develop the Castle Piccadilly site would need a “major review”. However, it added: “The York economy is particularly resilient and the city centre does not rely on retail alone.”
A draft city-centre action and investment plan, included with the economic team’s response to the Oakgate scheme, said “new modern retail space” was crucial for the heart of York, but said its economy had to become more diverse. It said closer links with the city’s outskirts could turn a potential loss of business to out-of-town shopping centres into “an opportunity to attract more trade to the city centre”.
The plan said thought should be given to “more flexible use” of long-term empty buildings, “strategic investment” in sites such as Castle Piccadilly, attracting more business events, and improving York’s markets and the city-centre’s appearance and accessibility. Millions of pounds in additional business rates from the Monks Cross development, some of which York will be able to keep, could help pay for such schemes, it said.
Comments(47)
Even AndyD
says...
5:15pm Sun 6 May 12
At the end of the day, its only two more (albeit large) stores, its also a sign York is open for investment and its the chance to get a stadium on the cheap. Just do it......please!
speaks99
says...
5:37pm Sun 6 May 12
bolero
says...
5:51pm Sun 6 May 12
Septimius Severus
says...
6:17pm Sun 6 May 12
Mark Stead is either being used by CYC or he's biased towards Oakhate.
Did anyone see the SundayTimes Sports Rich list? Oakgate's biggest shareholder Paul Caddick is worth £160M and owns Rhinos ground. Stinks.
JaseH
says...
6:18pm Sun 6 May 12
Build 1/2 of it and keep everyone happy!!!!!!!!!!!
Even AndyD
says...
6:33pm Sun 6 May 12
Septimius Severus wrote:When was it reported on before? And where - don't recall seeing it in the Press, but apologies if I'm wrong.
Not a new report. Disgraceful regurgitation of the report from the CYC Economic development unit already reported on. Suspect it's taken 4 days for CYC EDU to get a quote out. The EDU is the propaganda machine. Full of 'could' and 'might'. Katie is repeating info already in the public domain for the sake of protecting her boss and probably under orders from James Alexander. Dangerous strategy when it's based on garbage from Leeds economists and directly in opposition to the DJD report.
Mark Stead is either being used by CYC or he's biased towards Oakhate.
Did anyone see the SundayTimes Sports Rich list? Oakgate's biggest shareholder Paul Caddick is worth £160M and owns Rhinos ground. Stinks.
What have Leeds Rhinos got to do with anything? Half of C4Y live in Leeds or are Elland Rd regulars, but like I say, what is the relevance?
If Mark Stead is biased FOR the stadium, he has been hiding it awfully well! :-)
Anyway - nearly there, vote soon and I suspect a rejection.
sharpish
says...
6:49pm Sun 6 May 12
It concludes that the proposals fail both the sequential test and the impact assessment in Paras 26 & 27 of the NPPF and are therefore "not supportable in policy terms". In addition, it states that the proposals "could create a substantial risk to the soundness of the Plan and could risk its withdrawal".
3 thoughts..........
1. Poor Mr Vickery - yet another reason for unsoundness to consider!
2. Why was this evidence not produced at an earlier stage?
3. Why are the Press not reporting it?
Even AndyD
says...
7:00pm Sun 6 May 12
Mr Crabtree
says...
7:03pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish
says...
7:08pm Sun 6 May 12
I suspect that it's mainly JA who is driving this forward and that the Officers are trying to cover their backs when it all goes pear-shaped.......
Mr Crabtree
says...
7:16pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish wrote:Suddenly, the Council have either developed a conscience, or decided that it is time to be honest. Why has it taken so long ?
I've just read Martin Grainger's report (dated May 2nd) which is not mentioned in this article. It concludes that the proposals fail both the sequential test and the impact assessment in Paras 26 & 27 of the NPPF and are therefore "not supportable in policy terms". In addition, it states that the proposals "could create a substantial risk to the soundness of the Plan and could risk its withdrawal". 3 thoughts.......... 1. Poor Mr Vickery - yet another reason for unsoundness to consider! 2. Why was this evidence not produced at an earlier stage? 3. Why are the Press not reporting it?
If AndyD is right, and I hope he is, and this is reported tomorrow, then it will be interesting to see if any councillor will be brave enough to comment ?
Since the Council were lambasted by Mr Vickery over the unsoundness of their Core Strategy, at the exploratory meeting on 23 April, not one councillor has dared to comment - why ?
Any ideas or predictions, Sharpish ?
Mr Crabtree
says...
7:19pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish wrote:Thanks, Sharpish, but, who is right and who is wrong ?
I agree with your points Mr C. I suspect that it's mainly JA who is driving this forward and that the Officers are trying to cover their backs when it all goes pear-shaped.......
Mr Crabtree
says...
7:25pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish
says...
7:27pm Sun 6 May 12
My tentative prediction is that the Core Strategy will ultimately be found unsound because the flaws are of such gigantic proportions that they cannot be corrected.
It is a disaster for York!!!
I'm not surprised that Councillors do not dare to comment when you are engaged in the threads!!
Woody Mellor
says...
7:31pm Sun 6 May 12
Even AndyD
says...
7:38pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish
says...
7:42pm Sun 6 May 12
Mr Crabtree wrote:Their confidence deserves to be at rock bottom after the humiliation heaped on them all last month.
I suspect that the council (officers and labour councillors) had hoped that they would be able to drive this through with the tide of support from residents, whilst banking on minimal resistance. The Planning Inspector has dented their confidence, and maybe they have suddenly realised that their 'emperors new clothes' routine won't wash this time around ?
The Inspector told the Council that the CS could not be silent on the Stadium. If it is refused, won't they have to address the tricky question of where they DO intend to put it?
Woody Mellor
says...
7:44pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish
says...
7:49pm Sun 6 May 12
Mr Crabtree wrote:The Council will be in the wrong if they approve the Stadium & retail facilities when there is such a clear conflict with their own core policies!
sharpish wrote:Thanks, Sharpish, but, who is right and who is wrong ?
I agree with your points Mr C. I suspect that it's mainly JA who is driving this forward and that the Officers are trying to cover their backs when it all goes pear-shaped.......
On the other hand, I might be wrong..........
Even AndyD
says...
8:02pm Sun 6 May 12
Woody Mellor wrote:Never a bad idea - experience suggests you are right and anything else is a nice surprise! ;-)
Always been one to fly the black flag Andy.;o)
arg
says...
8:11pm Sun 6 May 12
1) John Lewis goes to Leeds. A huge swathe of folks from out of town will stop shopping in York and will go to Leeds: as these include most of Brown's Customers, Brown's will close and Debenhams, Fenwicks and Marks and Spencer will suffer too, maybe to the point of rolling up their tents.
2) John Lewis Goes to Monk's Cross. Same difference but York Council will make some moolah. Browns still goes and Debenhams, Marks and Fenwicks suffer. Debenhams and Marks shup up shop, well, Marks get to go to Monk's Cross too and Debenhams is there already.
3) John Lewis comes to Picadilly. Happiest outcome of all except it won't be a proper John Lewis. This will be the John Lewis Argos with a few retail bits but mainly online shopping pickup. Brown's shuts up shop, Marks stays where it is but picks up business from JL, and Debenhams whimpers. However, JL, ponces a bit, makes lots of we love York noises, and promptly opens a shop in Leeds: see 1) above.
Please note in the above scenario, the football stadium is featured not at all.
Whatever scenario we see above York is doomed, as is the football team. Maybe it is time for option 4)
4) There's a great big hole in the ground at Hungate... A full service John Lewis, York gives Brown's a massive cash bung to stay where they are, and everyone, except the football club is happy, but then they were just a political pigs bladder who were seduced into an invidious position to make the big honchos in Whitehall happy. How about putting it somewhere sensible, policeable, and accessible like York Central or anywhere along one of the railway tracks in or out of York with its own station.
Mr Crabtree
says...
8:21pm Sun 6 May 12
sharpish wrote:Thanks again, Sharpish, but, I actually meant, why had they not given any comments to the Press ? I expect that the press would have asked at least the three main councillors who are running things (JA, DM & TS-L), but, did they say no comment ? They dug a very big hole by predicting the CS/LDF would be found sound, and it will all come back to haunt them....... I promise you that !
Mr C.... My tentative prediction is that the Core Strategy will ultimately be found unsound because the flaws are of such gigantic proportions that they cannot be corrected. It is a disaster for York!!! I'm not surprised that Councillors do not dare to comment when you are engaged in the threads!!
Even AndyD
says...
8:23pm Sun 6 May 12
Mr Crabtree
says...
8:31pm Sun 6 May 12
speaks99
says...
9:53pm Sun 6 May 12
speaks99
says...
8:10am Mon 7 May 12
Septimius Severus wrote:The day when Septimus makes a post and I can't even raise the enthusiasm to respond. That tells me that this has been over reported!
Not a new report. Disgraceful regurgitation of the report from the CYC Economic development unit already reported on. Suspect it's taken 4 days for CYC EDU to get a quote out. The EDU is the propaganda machine. Full of 'could' and 'might'. Katie is repeating info already in the public domain for the sake of protecting her boss and probably under orders from James Alexander. Dangerous strategy when it's based on garbage from Leeds economists and directly in opposition to the DJD report.
Mark Stead is either being used by CYC or he's biased towards Oakhate.
Did anyone see the SundayTimes Sports Rich list? Oakgate's biggest shareholder Paul Caddick is worth £160M and owns Rhinos ground. Stinks.
Interesting that C4Y think that the press are biased against them and the pro lobby think the press is biased for C4Y!!
sperare e coraggio
says...
9:25am Mon 7 May 12
This so called report by the City of York Council economic development team is a manifestation of desperation and panic. Political masters at the council who wish to see the project happen are rattled by the many negative reports and have instructed their economic development team to make positive noises to counter the criticism. It doesn't wash. The economic development team couldn't develop a rash if bitten by every poisonous creature in Christendom. Look at the failures - York Central, British Sugar, Nestlé, Terry's. The economic development team have no credibility whatsoever.
Even AndyD
says...
9:48am Mon 7 May 12
Sperare - you are a one, you little devil, with your hugely one-sided arguments. But come on, the reason for Terry's et al struggling to get off the ground is this country, along with most of world is in economic meltdown. Anyway - Katie looks such a sensible girl. :-)
Septimius Severus
says...
9:51am Mon 7 May 12
sperare e coraggio wrote:Correct.
The day when speaks99 can't be bothered to respond is the day to change his username to shutup100.
This so called report by the City of York Council economic development team is a manifestation of desperation and panic. Political masters at the council who wish to see the project happen are rattled by the many negative reports and have instructed their economic development team to make positive noises to counter the criticism. It doesn't wash. The economic development team couldn't develop a rash if bitten by every poisonous creature in Christendom. Look at the failures - York Central, British Sugar, Nestlé, Terry's. The economic development team have no credibility whatsoever.
Even AndyD
says...
10:07am Mon 7 May 12
The retail development stats for 2011 were about 5% of what they were ten years ago. This is due to the recession - CoYC are NOT responsible for a national trend, as much as certain people on here would like them to be. Terry's, York Central stand no chance in the current climate - developers are licking their wounds and biding time.
I don't work for the Council, I've no particular love of them, but come on, one-sided, illogical argument gets us nowhere.
The fact remains that in the biggest financial crisis of all time, this City should NOT be turning down investment opportunities.
1localtrader
says...
11:44am Mon 7 May 12
your quick arn't you mate?
"Tell you something, if YCFC went to the wall, we'd reform and be back at Conference level long before LaSalle ever got round to doing anything with their plans!"
Now your talking! long as you build the private business with private money!
"I'm not surprised that Councillors do not dare to comment when you are engaged in the threads!!"
Councillors are not there to comment thy are there to decide!
me? I made my mind up months ago, YCFC fans did a good job of convincing me
Even AndyD
says...
12:05pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD
says...
12:07pm Mon 7 May 12
Septimius Severus
says...
12:14pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD wrote:It was Thursday's story.
Septimius Severus wrote: Not a new report. Disgraceful regurgitation of the report from the CYC Economic development unit already reported on. Suspect it's taken 4 days for CYC EDU to get a quote out. The EDU is the propaganda machine. Full of 'could' and 'might'. Katie is repeating info already in the public domain for the sake of protecting her boss and probably under orders from James Alexander. Dangerous strategy when it's based on garbage from Leeds economists and directly in opposition to the DJD report. Mark Stead is either being used by CYC or he's biased towards Oakhate. Did anyone see the SundayTimes Sports Rich list? Oakgate's biggest shareholder Paul Caddick is worth £160M and owns Rhinos ground. Stinks.When was it reported on before? And where - don't recall seeing it in the Press, but apologies if I'm wrong. What have Leeds Rhinos got to do with anything? Half of C4Y live in Leeds or are Elland Rd regulars, but like I say, what is the relevance? If Mark Stead is biased FOR the stadium, he has been hiding it awfully well! :-) Anyway - nearly there, vote soon and I suspect a rejection.
Caddick is a super rich property develop making massive profits from sports stadia! That's why it's real vent.
None of C4Y live in Leeds to my knowledge. Not are many regulars at ER. Irrelevant.
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:34pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD wrote:Katie looks very young, will therefore has little experience and will do as she is told by her manipulative masters.
In fairness, can't be easy being an economic development team in the biggest recession since someone said, I know, lets spend all our cash on the Crusades. Sperare - you are a one, you little devil, with your hugely one-sided arguments. But come on, the reason for Terry's et al struggling to get off the ground is this country, along with most of world is in economic meltdown. Anyway - Katie looks such a sensible girl. :-)
The economic meltdown is the well worn out excuse used by York council and you should not be sucked in by this deception., and there are There are developments large and small going ahead all over the country, and York has been left behind. Despite their officers misrepresenting York's development figures as following the same trend as the rest of the country, closer examination and comparison reveals a different story. That is why officers have used skewed statistics in an effort to disguise the true position - that the 50% affordable housing policy did massive damage for six years since it's introduction in 2005 - IT'S A FACT !
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:40pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD
says...
12:42pm Mon 7 May 12
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:43pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD wrote:They do when it suits them. but, they don't when they can't defend their position, or have something to hide !
I agree about Councillors not being there to play on these forums though. Can never understand why people expect them to waste time engaging with the few dozen, argumentative regulars on here. Me included! :-)
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:45pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD wrote:Subject to planning, Andy - SUBJECT TO PLANNING !
So you agree with me then, Mr C. - time for something for residents and time for more investment in York?
Even AndyD
says...
12:51pm Mon 7 May 12
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:51pm Mon 7 May 12
Even AndyD wrote:Stop playing into their hands and excusing their mismanagement. York Central has been on their agenda for over 10 years and it is still no further forward. The Council made a BIG mistake with the 50% AH policy and that put housebuilding into decline in York three to four years before the rest of the region, and the rest of the country - it was not following a trend there.
In times of recession, people stop spending. As a result, shops stop expanding and investing. This kicks onto developers stopping building for them. The retail development stats for 2011 were about 5% of what they were ten years ago. This is due to the recession - CoYC are NOT responsible for a national trend, as much as certain people on here would like them to be. Terry's, York Central stand no chance in the current climate - developers are licking their wounds and biding time. I don't work for the Council, I've no particular love of them, but come on, one-sided, illogical argument gets us nowhere. The fact remains that in the biggest financial crisis of all time, this City should NOT be turning down investment opportunities.
speaks99
says...
1:27pm Mon 7 May 12
Septimius Severus wrote:Thursdays story was , "Experts say Monks Cross development would have adverse impact on city-centre trade". Are you mixing it up with Wednesdays story, which was about a report from a very different group from the above report?
Even AndyD wrote:It was Thursday's story.
Septimius Severus wrote: Not a new report. Disgraceful regurgitation of the report from the CYC Economic development unit already reported on. Suspect it's taken 4 days for CYC EDU to get a quote out. The EDU is the propaganda machine. Full of 'could' and 'might'. Katie is repeating info already in the public domain for the sake of protecting her boss and probably under orders from James Alexander. Dangerous strategy when it's based on garbage from Leeds economists and directly in opposition to the DJD report. Mark Stead is either being used by CYC or he's biased towards Oakhate. Did anyone see the SundayTimes Sports Rich list? Oakgate's biggest shareholder Paul Caddick is worth £160M and owns Rhinos ground. Stinks.When was it reported on before? And where - don't recall seeing it in the Press, but apologies if I'm wrong. What have Leeds Rhinos got to do with anything? Half of C4Y live in Leeds or are Elland Rd regulars, but like I say, what is the relevance? If Mark Stead is biased FOR the stadium, he has been hiding it awfully well! :-) Anyway - nearly there, vote soon and I suspect a rejection.
Caddick is a super rich property develop making massive profits from sports stadia! That's why it's real vent.
None of C4Y live in Leeds to my knowledge. Not are many regulars at ER. Irrelevant.
speaks99
says...
1:29pm Mon 7 May 12
sperare e coraggio wrote:Very droll (troll??)
The day when speaks99 can't be bothered to respond is the day to change his username to shutup100.
This so called report by the City of York Council economic development team is a manifestation of desperation and panic. Political masters at the council who wish to see the project happen are rattled by the many negative reports and have instructed their economic development team to make positive noises to counter the criticism. It doesn't wash. The economic development team couldn't develop a rash if bitten by every poisonous creature in Christendom. Look at the failures - York Central, British Sugar, Nestlé, Terry's. The economic development team have no credibility whatsoever.
Even AndyD
says...
4:43pm Mon 7 May 12
Magicman!
says...
12:16am Tue 8 May 12
meme
says...
12:25pm Tue 8 May 12
says...