Imagery of new York Central scheme unveiled

A new flythrough video has been unveiled revealing what the York Central site could look like, transforming one of the largest city centre brownfield sites in the UK.

The video, produced by Arup, gives a taste of what the ambitious development would bring to York. The footage follows one of the key routes through the first phases of residential development, the National Railway Museum’s South Yard, the boulevard within the new central business district and into the new public square.

It brings to life the walkway that would open up the National Railway Museum’s South Yard to local people and to extend the new park that forms the central feature of the site.

Tamsin Hart-Jones, project lead from York Central Partnership, said: “It’s great to be able to bring the plans to life in a different way and show the kind of vision we have and are working towards.

“This new footage captures some of the core elements we have been focusing on, specifically creating and connecting communities and establishing vibrant neighbourhoods through a mix of uses and different types of public spaces, to bring this area of the city to life.”

The new visual comes as the City of York Council begins the process of selecting a construction contractor to deliver the first phase of the site infrastructure works, with the stage 1 tender documentation opening for submissions on 18 February.

An outline planning application for the York Central masterplan was submitted in the summer and includes provision for the comprehensive redevelopment of the site including homes; new office, retail and leisure uses; community and hotel uses; car parking; a new access road and pedestrian and cycling access points; open spaces including a Great Park and the expansion of the National Railway Museum. It also includes a new western concourse forming an access to York Railway Station.

The visionary masterplan will transform an underused part of the city centre, creating new residential, cultural and business neighbourhoods in the heart of York.

Once complete, it is expected to increase the size of York’s economy by over 20% and create up to 2,500 homes and around 6,500 jobs.

York Central is a collaborative partnership between Homes England, Network Rail, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.