YORK'S ‘levelling up’ bid for the city centre was unsuccessful in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget.

The city submitted a list of three projects to the tune of £19 million earlier this year, but they were not included in a list of successful bids.

They included plans to transform Castle Car Park and the Eye of York into a new public space, featuring a riverside park, at a cost of just over £10 million.

There were also proposals to revamp Coney Street and extend the riverside walkway, with a bid of almost £4.2 million. 

A third project would have seen Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square improved at a cost of nearly £4.9 million.

York Press: A bid for cash had been made to transform Castle Car Park into a new public space and riverside park

The city was considered a low priority for investment for the national £4.8bn fund, with places ranked in terms of their need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity and regeneration.

The Chancellor did mention York’s National Railway Museum (NRM) as part of an £850 million plan to protect museums, galleries, libraries, and local culture, although this funding had already been announced.

The NRM was awarded £18.5 million from the government’s new £250 million culture investment fund to support the cultural and creative sector earlier this month.

And buried in the budget documents was £50,000 to help draw up a business case to reopen the York to Beverley railway line, a boost for Beverley’s MP Graham Stuart and the Minsters Rail Campaign.

City of York Council leader Keith Aspden said the budget represented a ‘tax bombshell’ on local communities.

He added: “This is not just about money, local councils must be empowered by devolved decision-making in areas such as education, skills and planning, which will be key in delivering for our communities.”

York Press:

York’s levelling up bids were all concentrated in the York Central constituency, represented by MP Rachael Maskell.

She said: “The people and planet will pay for this budget.

“I will study the announcements made and the impact that these will have on our communities and businesses over the coming days as more detail emerges, and while welcoming the re-announcement of funding to York’s National Railway Museum, will take every opportunity to stand up for York’s people and our planet.”