Issue - meetings

The purpose of this Report is to provide an update on the Castle Gateway masterplan and seek approval for the next steps, necessary to take forward individual projects:

•        17-21 Piccadilly

•        Castle Mills

•        St George’s Field car park

•        Castle car park and Eye of York

•        Coppergate Centre

Resolved:

17- 21 Piccadilly

                      i.         Approved the granting of a further head lease to Spark York of the 17- 21 Piccadilly site for a further 2-year period from and including: 1st November 2024 until and including 31st October 2026;

                    ii.         Delegated to the Director of Housing, Economy, and Regeneration (and their delegated officers), in consultation with the Director of Governance (and their delegated officers), authority to negotiate the terms of and the entry into of such further lease of the 17-21 Piccadilly site to Spark York.

Reason:    To enable the current use to continue in the short term and provide a continued income to the Council, whilst allowing Spark York the opportunity to identify an alternative location in the city.

Castle Mills

                   iii.         Confirmed that further work on developing the Castle Mills site is paused and ask officers to investigate appropriate meanwhile use options in parallel with exploring longer term opportunities for the future delivery of 100% affordable housing on this Council owned site;

                  iv.         Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Economy and Regeneration (and their delegated officers) in consultation with both the Director Governance and the Chief Finance Officer (and their respective delegated officers) to commission any necessary professional advice required for said work in compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (‘the Procurement Regs’) and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules under Appendix 11 of the Council’s Constitution (‘Council’s CPRs’), and to draft, negotiate, and conclude any contractual arrangements and/or legal documentation required for said work.

Reason:    To seek an active use for this City Centre site and to progress the Council’s objective of 100% affordable housing being delivered on Council owned sites.

                    v.         Instructed Officers to progress work to secure delivery of the pedestrian/cycle bridge, sustainable travel links, subject to confirmation of funding with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (“WYCA”); updated delivery costings; and all necessary approvals, planning, highways, and bridge agreement.

                  vi.         Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Economy and Regeneration (and their delegated officers) in consultation with both the Director Governance and the Chief Finance Officer (and their respective delegated officers) to commission any necessary contractors and/or consultants required for said works in compliance with the Procurement Regs and the Council’s CPRs, and to draft, negotiate, and conclude any and all such contractual arrangements and/or legal documentation required for said works (including any and all planning agreements and/or highways agreements required; however for the sake of clarity this delegation is not for any requirements of either the Local Planning and/or Highways Authority).

                 vii.         Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Economy, and Regeneration and the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning (and their delegated officers) in consultation with both the Director Governance (and their delegated officers) to draft, negotiate, and conclude with WYCA any and all such contractual arrangements and/or legal documentation relating to the funding for the proposed works.

Reason:    To maximise use of external funding, previously allocated by WYCA, to deliver city centre connectivity in accordance with the sustainable travel principles of the  ...  view the full decision text for item 56

Officers explained that initial approval for the Castle Gateway project was granted in 2018, however, rising interest rates and building costs had negatively affected the delivery of phase one of the project. They confirmed that following a review the report set out a proposed revised plan for the Executive to consider.

The Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities welcomed the review into the project and welcomed that the proposals put forward had considered the response to the My Castle Gateway consultation. She also welcomed the additional green space at the Eye of York, the maintaining of blue badge parking, and the proposal to not continue with plans for a new multi-story car park. She welcomed the extension for Spark York and noted that the Council would work to find a permanent home for Spark. Finally, the tying-in of refurbishment at the Coppergate Centre was welcomed.

The Executive Member for Economy & Transport thanked officers for the report and work on the city centre vision. He noted that the multi-story car park in the original plans was not value for money and was disappointed to have to write of the cost of work on this part of the project. He confirmed that the Council was reviewing parking across the city.

Resolved:

17- 21 Piccadilly

                   i.        Approved the granting of a further head lease to Spark York of the 17- 21 Piccadilly site for a further 2-year period from and including: 1st November 2024 until and including 31st October 2026;

                  ii.        Delegated to the Director of Housing, Economy, and Regeneration (and their delegated officers), in consultation with the Director of Governance (and their delegated officers), authority to negotiate the terms of and the entry into of such further lease of the 17-21 Piccadilly site to Spark York.

Reason:    To enable the current use to continue in the short term and provide a continued income to the Council, whilst allowing Spark York the opportunity to identify an alternative location in the city.

Castle Mills

                 iii.        Confirmed that further work on developing the Castle Mills site is paused and ask officers to investigate appropriate meanwhile use options in parallel with exploring longer term opportunities for the future delivery of 100% affordable housing on this Council owned site;

                iv.        Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Economy and Regeneration (and their delegated officers) in consultation with both the Director Governance and the Chief Finance Officer (and their respective delegated officers) to commission any necessary professional advice required for said work in compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (‘the Procurement Regs’) and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules under Appendix 11 of the Council’s Constitution (‘Council’s CPRs’), and to draft, negotiate, and conclude any contractual arrangements and/or legal documentation required for said work.

Reason:    To seek an active use for this City Centre site and to progress the Council’s objective of 100% affordable housing being delivered on Council owned sites.

                  v.        Instructed Officers to progress work to secure delivery of the pedestrian/cycle bridge, sustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56