York residential project gets the go-ahead

PLANS to transform one of York’s most recognisable buildings back into the city’s finest residential address have been given the green light.

City of York Council has approved plans that will see Yorkshire property group Rushbond restore St Leonard’s Place, which is a historic Grade II listed crescent, as well as the adjoining car park and the Grade II listed properties on Museum Street, into five townhouses and 29 grand apartments.  In addition, a mix of six conversion and new build mews properties will be built at the rear of the main crescent building. 

Work on the restoration is due to start around Easter this year when Savills, York will be launching the marketing campaign. 

Until recently, St Leonard’s Place was home to City of York Council, which relocated to new offices in 2013, but it was originally built in the 1830s as elegant houses.  The iconic crescent led the way in domestic architecture and introduced York to a style of home that was only found in parts of London at the time. 

Mark Finch, director of real estate at Rushbond, said: “We are absolutely delighted to gain the Planning Committee’s unanimous support for this completely unique development which will bring these truly magnificent buildings back to life and create an exceptional residential development offering some of finest homes in the North of England. 

“Restoring such an iconic and historic building is a very sensitive process and we will be utilising all Rushbond’s development expertise to ensure we maximise all of its potential and complement everything else that is happening in the city.  Indeed, it is a very exciting time for the surrounding area with the restoration of the Art Gallery as well as the revitalisation of both the Theatre Royal and Explore Library.  It is fantastic that St Leonard’s Place will once again become another prominent landmark building set alongside these attractions, that the city can be proud of.

“There’s no doubt St Leonard’s Place has the potential to elevate York into a another league in terms of its residential offering by creating a prestigious address that will no doubt become synonymous with the City, on par with the Royal Crescent in Bath and Grosvenor Square in London’s Belgravia.  When this is combined with the range of properties on offer, that are set to appeal to a national and international audience as well as local and regional buyers, it makes St Leonard’s Place a very exciting prospect for York as a whole.”