Consent secured for final phase of city riverside regeneration project
Property specialist Helmsley Group has gained planning permission for the final part of its Coney Street Riverside masterplan, which will bring residential space to the city and realise a 50-year ambition to reconnect York to its riverfront.
With work expected to start in the summer of 2025, this approval grants the development of 3-7 Coney Street and the creation of a new snickelway which will play a key role in reconnecting Coney Street to the River Ouse.
The decision follows recent approval from City of York Council (CoYC) for the development of 19-33 Coney Street and 39 Coney Street to 2 Spurriergate which saw members agree to both the masterplan planning application and a separate listed building application.
The land to be developed is currently used only for bin storage. Helmsley Group’s plans will also introduce seven new residential apartments into the currently unused upper floors of buildings 3-7 Coney Street.
As well as connecting Coney Street to the river, creation of the new snickelway will also allow for introduction of restaurants and cafés with external seating.
Existing shopfronts of the listed buildings at 3-7 will be regenerated to reflect their historic character and the new ground floor retail space will be aimed at independent businesses.
Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “This approval forms the final piece of our much anticipated Coney Street Riverside masterplan and we can’t wait to begin bringing our vision to life.
“As well as creating a welcoming and accessible offer for both locals and visitors to enjoy, bringing underused upper floors back into use is also a key aspiration across the Coney Street Riverside regeneration and our plans will introduce much-needed housing within the city centre.”
Led by York-based developer the Helmsley Group, the Coney Street Riverside masterplan seeks to create 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial, residential and student space, alongside extensive public realm.
The project team for the scheme includes Helmsley Group, brown + company, O’Neill Associates, Corstorphine and Wright, Montagu Evans, Aspect4, Gillespies, Troup Bywaters & Anders, Billinghurst George & Partners, Jane Simpson Access, Knight Frank, DS Emotion and Aberfield Communications.
