Decision details

Purpose of report: To consider the York Central Partnership recommended access route for inclusion in the master plan, to provide an update on progress and to agree the release of funds to support future work on master planning, consultation and planning application submission.

The Executive will be asked to: Agree an access route and agree funding for the next stages of work to take the scheme through the planning application stage.

This item has been deferred to give sufficient time for analysis of consultation responses by York Central Partnership.

Resolved:  (i)      That the recommendation of the York Central Partnership (YCP) - to develop a Western access option for inclusion in the York Central Masterplan and to undertake further design and legal work to ensure that the final alignment will seek to mitigate the effects of such a route on the Millennium Green and control costs to ensure deliverability – be agreed.

                   (ii)      That a change request be submitted to West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to re-allocate funding to the revised access scheme.

                   (iii)     That land within YCP’s control that could be used for a Southern Option be safeguarded, in order to protect against any risk to the York Central development caused by circumstances preventing successful delivery of a Western Option.

                   (iv)    That the plan for the YCP to undertake public consultation on a masterplan which will lead to the submission of planning applications be noted.

                   (v)     That the allocation of £1.997m from the previously agreed York Central budget of £10m to meet project costs to planning submission be agreed, with these costs to be considered as a project cost for reimbursement from a future YCP development account.

                   (vi)    That, in taking the project forward,

a)   Council Officers be directed to:

·        Focus on community engagement as an integral part of the process for the detailed design of the preferred access option, and the development of the York Central Masterplan (YCM), in accordance with the YCP principles;

·        Consider how the development can become an exemplar of sustainable development through the detailed design of the preferred access option and the development of the YCM, in accordance with the YCP principles;

·        Consider the potential for sustainable energy use and renewable energy generation as part of the development of the detailed design of the YCM, in accordance with the YCP principles;

·        Consider affordable housing delivery as an integral part of the YCM;

b)   The Partnership be requested to maintain the current provision of information to ensure that the council and the public are able to understand the background to proposals, in order that the scheme will progress over the forthcoming decades.

Reason:     To ensure the delivery of York Central and to ensure that the preferred access option has taken into account a range of considerations.

                   (vi)    That the National Railway Museum (NRM) be supported in the development of the NRM masterplan and bids for funding, including Heritage Lottery funding, to support their expansion plans.

                   (vii)    That a contribution of £200k be provided to the NRM towards the further development of their masterplanning and fundraising bids from the £10m York Central budget.

Reason:     To support the future enhancement and expansion of the NRM as an important cultural anchor to the York Central development.