THE latest masterplan for the huge York Central development can be exclusively revealed today by The Press.

An illustrative map shows where just over 2,000 new homes and almost 90,000 square metres of commercial space may be located on the teardrop shaped site behind York Railway Station.

But the York Central Partnership’s scheme is also looking to create:

* A new multi-storey car park on land behind the station to compensate for lost station parking in Leeman Road

*A new public square - bigger than Millennium Square in Leeds - between the station and the National Railway Museum where events and performances can be staged

*Some traffic free streets where children can play safely

*A ‘great park’, featuring trees, grassy areas and reed beds and bigger than the Museum Gardens, which would run through the site

*Traffic free cycle and pedestrian paths through the site

*New hotels, restaurants and pubs.

Project manager Tamsin Hart-Jones said the new housing would be a mix of apartments up to six storeys high and town house terraces which echoed the style of homes in Leeman Road.

She said the partnership would be applying for outline planning permission for up to 2,500 new homes and up to 112,816 sq metres of commercial development but could not deliver both in combination.

In that context, its scheme illustration shows 2,078 new homes and 89,386 sq metres of commercial uses.

|Most of the latter would be in a commercial hub mostly up to six storeys high on land near the railway station, which would feature a hotel, restaurants and bars, and apartments, as well as offices. The new apartments would mostly be built to the west of the site nearest to Holgate Road, with a mix of terraced town houses and apartments closest to Leeman Road.

Ms Hart-Jones said original plans for the site had been revised after a major consultation earlier this year, in which thousands of suggestions had been made by local residents and others taking part.

She said more public consultation was planned prior to submission of an outline planning application on August 8, allowing residents to learn how their feedback had helped to shape the plans.

This included a movement workshop from 6pm -8.30pm next Wednesday at the museum, focussing on emerging access plans, and a masterplan workshop from 6pm-8pm the following day, again at the museum, focussing on design, landscape, housing, uses and governance. There would also be a drop-in day from 10am-4pm on July 26 in the foyer of York Council’s West Offices.

Drop-in exhibitions will also be staged at the museum from 3pm-6pm on July 25 and from 10.30am-midday on July 28.

Museum director Judith McNicol said: “York Central represents a huge opportunity for everyone in the city and I would welcome anyone who wishes to have their say, to attend the consultation events at the museum later this month.”