Plans unveiled for 106 apartments, a new bridge and public park

York City Council has submitted its plans to create a public park at the rear of the Castle Museum, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Foss, commercial spaces for independent traders, and 106 apartments, including new council housing.

It is another milestone in the delivery of the regeneration of the Castle Gateway. As well as bringing life to the old Castle Mills car park site and a place for growing York businesses on Piccadilly, the residential development would fund the construction of a new multi-storey car park on St George’s Field.

This parking would allow Castle car park to close and be replaced by additional public space.

The Castle Mills plans would see two residential apartment blocks built, with the entire southern block of 20 apartments being new council housing. The northern block will include 86 flats ranging in size from one bed apartments to two bed duplexes. The ground floor of both apartment blocks will feature commercial spaces.

The council is taking a lead on environmental sustainability, with homes benefiting from renewable energy sources and the proposals providing a car free development with high level of cycle parking.

The proposals also include a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the river Foss linking up with the new pedestrian/cycle crossing over the inner ring and connecting up wider cycle routes to create safer and sustainable journeys in to and through the city centre.

The bridge will link across to the area at the rear of the Castle Museum. This space, which is currently part of the museum grounds, will be opened to the public as a riverside park, creating a place to relax in the shadow of the Castle Walls.