Issue - meetings

This report sets out a brief to the master developers of the York Central site on the aspirations of the Council as a key York Central partner, identifying some basic principles on what it hopes will be achieved in terms of the mix of business space, the range of occupiers who will bring their businesses to York and the environmental characteristics that the city needs.

Resolved: That;

a)   The Brief to the Master Developers be endorsed and that officers and Members seek to influence the Council’s partners to seek the realisation of this vision through the careful choice of investors, developers and occupiers for the York Central site and the demonstration of benefit to all residents with a wide range of employment including social enterprises and small businesses.

b)   The Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Government to seek exemption for York from permitted development rights for the conversion of offices to housing and hotel uses.

c)   Reports on the future Industrial Strategy, Reserved Matters process and Sustainability be provided to the Executive Member.

Reason:     To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in York.

The Executive Member considered a report that set a brief to the master developers of the York Central site on the aspirations of the Council as a key York Central partner. The brief identified some basic principles on what the council hoped would be achieved in terms of the mix of business space, the range of occupiers who will bring their businesses to York and the environmental characteristics that the city needs.

The Head of Economic Growth was in attendance to present the report and he gave an overview of the report. The Assistant Director for Planning and Public Protection noted that the Reserved Matters planning applications would bring forward the details of York Central and this would include more detail on sustainability.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, the Planning and Public Protection confirmed that:

·        Although there no Reserved Matters applications had been made, work had begun on Reserved Matters applications in relation to infrastructure.

·        There was scope in the Local Plan for office accommodation.

·        There had been a report to government about the removal of permitted development rights.

·        There had been 6500 affordable housing completions.

The Executive Member welcomed the report and acknowledged the concerns raised by speakers. He noted that community use would be considered as part of the Reserved Matters applications. He reinforced that York Central needed to be for the benefit of all residents and noted he would continue to press for the demonstration of this suggesting that there needed to be a review on the impact of York Central on other parts of the city. He noted that the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were developing local industrial strategies and there would be consultation on the York LEP strategy. The Head of Economic Growth confirmed that a report on the LEP strategy would be brought to a future Decision Session.

Resolved: That;

a)   The Brief to the Master Developers be endorsed and that officers and Members seek to influence the Council’s partners to seek the realisation of this vision through the careful choice of investors, developers and occupiers for the York Central site and the demonstration of benefit to all residents with a wide range of employment including social enterprises and small businesses.

b)   The Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Government to seek exemption for York from permitted development rights for the conversion of offices to housing and hotel uses.

c)   Reports on the future Industrial Strategy, Reserved Matters process and Sustainability be provided to the Executive Member.

Reason:     To support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in York.