Issue - items at meetings - Castle Gateway update

The Corporate Director of Place to present a report which provides a comprehensive update on the regeneration of the Castle Gateway and sets out the next delivery stages, including actions to prepare for procurement should the council’s bid to the Levelling Up fund be successful.

Resolved: (i) That the inclusion of the new public realm at Castle and Eye of York in the council’s round two Levelling Up Fund bid be noted.

Reason: To be aware that additional funding is being sought to deliver the Castle Gateway regeneration.

(ii) That, subject to planning permission being secured, officers be instructed to prepare tender documents to procure a contractor for Castle and Eye of York so that the procurement is ready to proceed should the Levelling Up Fund bid be successful.

Reason: To ensure the ability to deliver the Castle and Eye of York project within the Levelling Up Fund timeframes.

(iii) That the termination of the NEC3 PSSC with Wates to produce a RIBA Stage 4 design and construction price for Castle Mills be noted.

Reason: To be aware that the council has not been able to reach a satisfactory outcome on identified challenges, and is in the process of terminating the NEC3 PSSC.

(iv) That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Governance, to take such steps as are necessary to procure a construction contractor to complete the detail design/costing and subsequent construction of the proposed apartments, pedestrian/cycle bridge and riverside park at Castle Mills, and to bring a further report to Executive on the Castle Mills business case before proceeding into the construction contract based upon tendered price.

Reason: To enable the delivery of the Castle Mills project and the Castle Gateway regeneration on a 2 phase re-procurement basis to secure firm prices before commencing construction.

(v) That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to submit details to secure the necessary statutory consent under s106 of the Highways Act 1980 from the Secretary of State for the new bridge over the Foss navigation and to enter in to a build over agreement with Yorkshire Water in respect of the sewer running across the Castle Mills development.

Reason: To secure the necessary approvals to allow Castle Mills to proceed.

(vi) That the decision on whether to build a multi-storey car park (MSVP) at St George’s Field be deferred until Executive has a construction price for Castle Mills.

Reason: Deferring until the inter-related point in time when a construction price is agreed for Castle Mills will allow further evidence to be collected to inform a decision on whether the MSCP still represents the best alternative replacement parking solution for the closure of Castle Car Park.

(vii) That officers be instructed to collect more data on parking demand, further engage with city centre businesses and stakeholders, and explore alternative options to maximise surface car parking provision at St George’s Field to inform the future decision on car parking replacement.

Reason: To provide further information and enable consultation with city centre businesses and scrutiny to inform consideration of replacement parking solutions to allow the closure of Castle Car Park.

The Director of Housing, Regeneration & Economy and the Head of Regeneration & Economy presented a report which provided a comprehensive update on the regeneration of the Castle Gateway and set out the next delivery stages, including actions to prepare for procurement should the council’s bid to the Levelling Up fund (as set out in the report on the previous item) be successful.

The Castle Mills site, which would create a new riverside park, pedestrian/cycle bridge and new apartments to help fund the wider public benefits of the project masterplan, had been subject to delays. A number of issues had led to the termination of the council’s contract with Wates Construction Limited for design and construction proposals, so that proposals to proceed with construction would not now be ready until summer 2023. This delay also meant that the decision on options to replace Castle Car Park could be deferred, providing the opportunity to collect more data and engage further with city centre stakeholders.

In response to matters raised under Public Participation, officers stated that the decision on parking would ultimately be a political choice, based on the available data and current policy.

The Executive Member for Transport highlighted the wider merits of the project and supported the recommendations. The Executive Member for Finance & Performance, in supporting the recommendations, highlighted the complexity and importance of the project and re-iterated his commitment to continuing an evidence-based approach to related decisions.