Issue - meetings

This report considers the future development options for the Hungate Employment Site and recommends actions to promote the development and/ or disposal of the site.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of the site as a prime location for either Central Government Office relocation or private office development be supported, and that the marketing of the site should reflect this ambition.

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to ensure that the site is cleared, its archaeology investigated, prepared and in a state of readiness for future development.

(iii) That it be acknowledged that the viability of any future development option should take account of the costs incurred to date in making the site ready for development.

(iv) That, in the event that future development proposals are planned for the medium to long term, the investigation of short term uses for the site be requested.

(v) That Officers be requested to monitor market conditions and report back to the Executive any significant interest in or offers for the site.

(vi) That it be requested that future reports include updates on all recommendations arising from the meeting on 25 August 2009 with the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber.

REASON:      To ensure that all options are considered to maximise the value and development opportunities for this important site in the centre of York.

Members considered a report which set out the future development options for the Hungate Employment Site and recommended actions to promote the development and / or disposal of the site.

The site, which was wholly owned by the Council, comprised the former Ambulance Station, the Haymarket car park and the former Peaseholme Hostel.  Any options for its future would need to comply with the masterplan for the Hungate site as a whole, as well as helping to fund the cost of an alternative site for the new Council Headquarters building, following withdrawal of the Hungate planning application.  Paragraphs 18 to 26 of the report examined a number of potential uses of the site to meet the needs of Council services, partner organisations and / or Central Government.  Actions to promote the development / disposal of the site were set out in paragraphs 31 to 36.  They included discussing proposals for collaborative development with identified partners, with particular reference to Central Government office relocation, the Primary Care Trust and North Yorkshire Police, as well as a review of all Council service needs and investigation of short-term site uses.

Members were invited to consider the following options for development or disposal of the site:

Option 1 – offer the site for sale and report back on any significant offers made.

Option 2 – continue to work with partners to establish a collaborative development solution for the site and encourage complementary interest from the wider market.  This was the recommended option, in view of the work done to date.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of the site as a prime location for either Central Government Office relocation or private office development be supported, and that the marketing of the site should reflect this ambition. ¹

                        (ii)        That Officers be requested to ensure that the site is cleared, its archaeology investigated, prepared and in a state of readiness for future development. ²

(iii) That it be acknowledged that the viability of any future development option should take account of the costs incurred to date in making the site ready for development. ³

(iv) That, in the event that future development proposals are planned for the medium to long term, the investigation of short term uses for the site be requested. ⁴

(v) That Officers be requested to monitor market conditions and report back to the Executive any significant interest in or offers for the site. ⁵

(vi) That it be requested that future reports include updates on all recommendations arising from the meeting on 25 August 2009 with the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber. ⁶

REASON:      To ensure that all options are considered to maximise the value and development opportunities for this important site in the centre of York.