£200 million York development hangs in the balance (From York Press)

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£200 million Castle Piccadilly development in York hangs in the balance

8:40am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Community stadium news Photograph of the Author By Mark Stead, Political Reporter

Graeme Chalk, of LaSalle’s development manager Centros

Updated: THE owners of York’s Coppergate Centre will abandon their redevelopment plans and sell the site if new out-of-town shopping schemes get the go-ahead, they have warned.

In a message to City of York Council, LaSalle UK Ventures Fund said approval for new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores at Monks Cross and an expansion of Monks Cross Shopping Park would force it to pull the plug on its £200 million Castle Piccadilly plans.

The company, which owns the city-centre retail site and two neighbouring pieces of land, said it would be “impossible” for it to continue with its plans, if the council gives permission for Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd’s proposals, which include a community stadium, and for introduction of mezzanine floors and smaller units at the shopping park.

LaSalle said the trading impact on the centre of York would be too damaging, and said they would look to sell the Coppergate Centre and the Castle Piccadilly site to separate buyers to “maximise value”.

LaSalle revealed last year it was talking to major retailers and discussing the possible expansion of the Fenwick store in Castle Piccadilly. It has now formally objected to the both Monks Cross applications, saying they go against planning guidelines.

Graeme Chalk, of LaSalle’s development manager Centros, said: “We are continuing to work closely with council officers to bring forward new plans for the Castle Piccadilly site, but councillors should understand they can't have both massive expansion at Monks Cross and the major investment LaSalle wishes to bring to the development.

“We believe the scale of the Monks Cross proposals will be devastating for city-centre retailers. The shoppers and trade it will pull away from the centre would cause a large number of shop closures and job losses.

“In that environment, it would be impossible to justify the major investment needed to deliver a development.”

Mr Chalk said LaSalle planned to launch a public consultation in the spring and was “totally committed and immensely enthusiastic” about Castle Piccadilly and said it would prevent major retailers seeking out-of-town sites. He said he hoped the plan would not need to be abandoned.

Oakgate managing director Richard France said: “The large store formats we are promoting at Monks Cross cannot be accommodated at Castle Piccadilly and there is currently unsatisfied demand from a large number of retailers for 450,000sq ft of retail space in York city centre alone.

"The Centros scheme could easily accommodate many of these retailers, as they could specifically tailor the size of the units to individual requirements. It is also important to state that our proposals provide funds for the enabling development of the community stadium which adjoins our site.

"Our own recent research shows that there is absolutely no reason why the community stadium development and the Castle Piccadilly redevelopment cannot both go ahead, as there would be little detrimental long-term impact on the city centre. To suggest that our development would be devastating for the city centre is completely unjustified."

Bill Woolley, the council’s director of city strategy and deputy chief executive, said: “We are very supportive of the development of Castle Piccadilly for retail and this site is at the heart of our future retail strategy for the city, as set out in our recently published planning core strategy.”

He said the council would look at all evidence surrounding the Monks Cross applications and take a balanced view on what was best for the city as a whole.

Cross purposes

Campaigners against “Monks Cross 2” gather for their meeting in Bennett’s Café in High Petergate

Campaigners against “Monks Cross 2” gather for their meeting in Bennett’s Café in High Petergate.

CAMPAIGNERS stepped up their opposition to proposed retail developments on the edge of York at a public meeting last night.

Traders from York, Selby and Malton said they fear new Monks Cross stores and an expansion of its shopping centre will wreck businesses and communities.

The Campaign For York is distributing 30,000 leaflets and is preparing to unveil a new website.

Spokesman Nick Eggleton said: “We are aiming to raise awareness of exactly what will happen, which is that businesses will close and hundreds of jobs will be lost.”

Andy Shrimpton, who owns Cycle Heaven, in Bishopthorpe Road, said: “These developments will suck the life out of the city and local communities, because businesses will have to relocate to compete – it’s not just about money, it’s about principle.”

Mark Wetherell, director of Selby’s Wetherells store, claimed a revamped Monks Cross would create “another town centre” and hit the town’s trade. City of York councillor Dave Taylor, who represents Fishergate ward, said: “I want to see a John Lewis store in York, but it should be in the city centre.”

City of York Council’s director of city strategy, Bill Woolley, said: “We are committed to supporting York’s city-centre trade and our Reinvigorate York initiative will improve and enhance the city’s public spaces and access. It is right there is a debate, but it’s crucial this is backed up by reliable and balanced data.”

Comments(96)

Sillybillies says...
6:45pm Thu 2 Feb 12

LaSalle said the trading impact on the centre of York would be too damaging, and said they would look to sell the Coppergate Centre and the Castle Piccadilly site to separate buyers to "maximise value".

Byee, it always was a white elephant no one really wanted.