Developer partners with university to create new hub

Property development and investment specialist, Helmsley Group, has let 29-31 Coney Street to the University of York, to enable the running of its Street Life project.

The premises have been transformed into a gallery, printing press and cultural hub with activities including music, creative writing, printing and heritage workshops.

The developer said it believes the project will play a vital role in helping to shape its plans for the future of the city centre destination.

Led by University of York researchers, the Street Life project will run events from the building until the end of June, after it the it received funding of £469,000 from the Government’s Community Renewal Fund to not only explore the 1,000-year history of Coney Street but support the creation of opportunities for the future.

Helmsley Group, has acquired several properties on Coney Street in recent years as part of its wider ambition to regenerate the area as a high-quality commercial and visitor destination.

The latest was the purchase of 19 Coney Street – a 50,000 sq ft retail unit currently occupied by Next and Monsoon.

Max Reeves, development director at Helmsley Group, said: “Coney Street and the connected riverfront have been vital to York’s growth and prosperity for more than 1,000 years and they have a similarly important role to play in the city’s ongoing success.

“It’s vital that our vision for Coney Street, which we’ll be sharing publicly over the coming months, is shaped collaboratively with the public and key city stakeholders and Street Life is an important element in helping to achieve this.

“We are grateful to the university of York and other partners from across York, including York Civic Trust, the York Conservation Trust, City of York Council and the York Music Venue Network, for spearheading Street Life and we look forward to using the insights gathered for the good of the city.”