Revised plans for ambitious mixed use city centre scheme

The partnership behind The Roman Quarter proposals in York has submitted revised plans for the development in the city centre.

Following feedback, amended plans have been lodged with City of York Council to address issues raised.

The height of the development has been reduced; it is now lower than the adjacent Aviva Offices, Yorkshire House (soon to be the Malmaison hotel) and The Grand Hotel.

Its design has also been amended, with more stone and less glass, to complement the two taller existing buildings either side of the new development.

Overall massing and width of the building has been decreased and the mix of the apartments has been altered with significantly larger, family style, homes included. The total number of new homes has been cut from 290 to 250.

The development is a partnership between North Star and York Archaeological Trust which will bring a “world class” Roman visitor attraction to the City.

It will regenerate and revitalise Rougier Street, as well as provide a major two-year archaeological dig on site.

Three buildings on Rougier Street – Northern House, Rougier House and Society Bar – will be replaced with the new property.  The scheme will include apartments, retail units, office space, leisure space, alongside the visitor attraction.

A spokesperson for North Star said: “We want to deliver this exciting project as quickly as possible which is why we have amended the plans.

“In the post-Covid uncertain economic times, we feel this project will be a major boost to York City Centre and help with York’s economic recovery.

“It will raise the city’s profile, create a fantastic new educational and cultural attraction and will show the city moving forward.

“We’ve taken on board comments about the height of the development and have now lowered the proposals to make this building the lowest of the four large buildings in the immediate vicinity.

“The feedback and support we have had on the proposals has been very encouraging and these plans offer a once in a generation opportunity to create something unique for the city that we can all be proud of.”

The development is intended to create over 450 jobs and inject an extra £250m into the local economy over the next 30 years.

David Jennings, chief executive of York Archaeological Trust, said: “We have had a superb response to the concept of the Roman visitor attraction, and indeed, enormous excitement about the potential of the archaeology that we will be uncovering during the dig if the plans are approved.

“We know this site has had many uses over the last 2,000 years, and are very pleased to be partnering with an organisation that sees the building as an integral part of the city’s future.”

A decision on the planning application from City of York Council is expected in the coming months.