National Railway Museum celebrates start on site as York Central wins planning

"This is fantastic news for York," said Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council. "It brings us closer to delivering the homes, jobs and opportunities that residents want to see and to growing York’s economy, which will benefit communities across our fine city for generations to come."

Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: "By unlocking one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country, we’re turning years of talk into action to drive growth in every region, raise living standards and build the homes communities desperately need."

The site has been designated as both a Mayoral Development Zone and an Entreprise Zone.

An over £135 million government investment into enabling infrastructure has already delivered new pedestrian and cycle routes, public realm and a new access bridge to the previously landlocked site, which is sandwiched between active railway lines and the River Ouse. 

Hidden in plain site, being located adjacent to the historic city centre, and subject to flood risk due to the proximity of the river, the masterplan was designed by architects Allies and Morrison with landscape architects Grant Associates to use green spaces to manage water and support biodiversity. A new linear park plays a major role in the site’s flood resilience.

When all phases are complete and built out over the next 15 years, the ambition is to have built 2,500 new homes and created 6,500 new jobs. Outline planning was granted in 2019. 

It’s expected that brand new public spaces including Coal Drops Square and Station Quarter will form a new gateway to the city centre.

John Gatley, chief executive officer of McLaren Property Group, said: “We look forward to starting work on delivering this brand-new city quarter for the people of York, which will not only provide them with much needed homes and jobs, but will also attract new investment and interest to the city and wider region, leaving a legacy that we can be proud of.”

It is estimated that the scheme will provide a £1.1 billion in Gross Value Added to the local economy through the creation of 6,500 local jobs, apprenticeships, targeted volunteering and investment into grassroots community projects and organisations.

Phase 1 sits alongside Museum Square, an 134,000 sq ft civil service office previously approved. The workspace will accommodate the Government Property Agency’s 2,600 civil servants.