12 Dec TATE CONSULTING FORMS PART OF THE TEAM AT YORK CENTRAL AS PLANNING APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED
Plans for one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes have taken a significant step forward with the submission of a planning application for a large proportion of the first phase of the development.
The submission includes proposals for the first tranche of homes, commercial space and parkland within the development, as well as extensive public realm and a brand-new western entrance to the railway station.
The £2 billion York Central, which has already secured outline planning approval, is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects.
It is being brought forward by joint venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, Homes England and Network Rail, in close collaboration with key stakeholders, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.
Tate Consulting is part of the design team for the vast development on a 45-hectare (equivalent to 64 football pitches) site which is larger than the regeneration of London’s Kings Cross, next to York Railway Station and adjacent to the city’s historic centre, where the ambition is to develop a new, world-class living, leisure and commercial quarter for the City of York, for the benefit of local people, as well as acting as the catalyst for major inward investment.
With over £135m Government funding already secured for infrastructure, the development is expected to create up to 6,500 direct and indirect new jobs, while an independent viability study expects York Central to help grow York’s economy by 20% by adding £1.1bn GVA to the city.
The key elements of the final portion of phase 1 (referred to as phase 1C application) include:
- 999 mix tenure homes, including 20% affordable
- 99,188 sq ft innovation hub
- 69,255 sq ft retail and leisure space
- 213-bedroom hotel
- Brand new western station entrance
- Extensive parkland and public realm
In preparation for the submission of the latest reserved matters application York Central has undergone an extensive public consultation with the local community.
The McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate development team hosted a drop-in event at the National Railway Museum which was attended by members of local communities and specialist interest groups. The wider York community also had the opportunity to submit feedback online on the York Central website (www.yorkcentral.uk).
This consultation formed part of an ongoing engagement programme which has included two community drop-in sessions held earlier this year, attendance at several ward councillor meetings, as well as close liaison with local interest groups, including the York Access Forum and York Civic Trust.
The latest designs for York Central are being delivered by a world-class team of architects, including global masterplan visionaries Allies and Morrison and renowned landscape specialists Grant Associates, to design the scheme.
The decision from the City of York Council on the phase 1C application is expected in Spring 2026, which will determine the delivery programme timeline. The first phase of delivery will also include the construction of a 134,678 sq ft Government office building and Museum Square, both of which were granted reserved matters planning in 2024.