Agenda item

This report sets out progress in establishing a deliverable proposal for regeneration of the York Central site, adjacent to the railway station and seeks Executive’s agreement to a range of actions to establish a delivery partnership, complete the assembly of the site, agree the approach to planning and commence public consultation.

Resolved:  That Executive agree:

(i)           To instruct officers to take all necessary preparatory steps to proceed with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) for all third party land on York Central, to be undertaken in parallel with a negotiated acquisition.

(ii)          To delegate to the Leader the authority to agree the final purchase price, following a negotiated acquisition of land off Leeman Road, in advance of the potential initiation of CPO’s, to be funded from the £10m set aside to support the delivery of York Central.

(iii)        To agree an emerging York Central Planning Policy as part of the development of the Local Plan.

(iv)        To agree to initiate an informal public consultation on the future development of the York Central site in order to inform the development of a formal Planning Framework.

(v)         To endorse officers to negotiate a detailed partnership agreement with land owners and investors to jointly deliver the York Central Scheme and to bring this back to Executive for agreement.

(vi)        To bring back to Members a funding strategy to deliver upfront infrastructure to facilitate development of the York Central site, setting out how any investment will be repaid from future retained business rates arising from the award of Enterprise Zone status and from development values from the York Central site.

(vii)      To undertake due diligence on the most appropriate corporate instruments for City of York Council to use to engage in developing a York Central Partnership and to bring this back to Executive as part of the proposal for a legally binding partnership.

(viii)     To delegate the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader the agreement of the procurement of advisors for the partnership.

Reason:     (i)      To complete the land assembly of the York Central site to ensure that a development scheme can be delivered.

(ii)      To complete the land assembly of the York Central site to ensure that the land required for key infrastructure is available and so a development scheme can be delivered.

(iii)     To inform the site allocation within the developing Local Plan.

(iv)     To ensure public engagement in the ongoing development of plans for York Central.

(v)     To put in place effective partnership arrangements to ensure York Central is developed.

(vi)     To secure any investment made by the City of York Council.

(vii)    To create robust delivery arrangements for the York Central project.

(viii)   To provide the partnership with a range of professional advice specifically focussed in the long term benefit interests of the partnership.

[See also Part B minute]

Consideration was given to a report which set out progress in the establishment of deliverable proposals for the regeneration of the York Central site. Members were asked to agree a range of actions, including the establishment of a delivery partnership, ways in which to complete land assembly and the approach to planning and commencement of public consultation.

Officers further set out the proposals for the site, highlighting the importance of engagement with residents, businesses and partners in the future development. Officers confirmed the recent award of Enterprise Zone status for the site which would provide funding for infrastructure costs to take the development forward. Officers also highlighted ongoing discussions with Unipart in relation to their land ownership and to assistance being provided to ensure that both the business and their employees remained in the York area.  

Members welcomed the report and expressed their support for the regeneration proposals and the suggested approach for delivery of the scheme.

In answer to questions Officers confirmed that comments relating to school provision, low carbon development, use of a district heating system and sustainable access would be noted as part of the development plan consultation.

The Chair also welcomed the report and thanked earlier speakers for their comments and support. In view of ongoing discussions he requested an amendment to the first recommendation to include a reference to ‘all third party land’ rather than ‘that currently owned by Unipart.’

Following further discussion it was   

Resolved:  That Executive agree:

(i)           To instruct officers to take all necessary preparatory steps to proceed with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) for all third party land on York Central, to be undertaken in parallel with a negotiated acquisition.

(ii)          To delegate to the Leader the authority to agree the final purchase price, following a negotiated acquisition of land off Leeman Road, in advance of the potential initiation of CPO’s, to be funded from the £10m set aside to support the delivery of York Central. ^1.

(iii)        To agree an emerging York Central Planning Policy as part of the development of the Local Plan.

(iv)        To agree to initiate an informal public consultation on the future development of the York Central site in order to inform the development of a formal Planning Framework.

(v)         To endorse officers to negotiate a detailed partnership agreement with land owners and investors to jointly deliver the York Central Scheme and to bring this back to Executive for agreement. ^2.

(vi)        To bring back to Members a funding strategy to deliver upfront infrastructure to facilitate development of the York Central site, setting out how any investment will be repaid from future retained business rates arising from the award of Enterprise Zone status and from development values from the York Central site. ^3.

(vii)      To undertake due diligence on the most appropriate corporate instruments for City of York Council to use to engage in developing a York Central Partnership and to bring this back to Executive as part of the proposal for a legally binding partnership.

(viii)     To delegate the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader the agreement of the procurement of advisors for the partnership. ^4.

Reason:     (i)      To complete the land assembly of the York Central site to ensure that a development scheme can be delivered.

(ii)      To complete the land assembly of the York Central site to ensure that the land required for key infrastructure is available and so a development scheme can be delivered.

(iii)     To inform the site allocation within the developing Local Plan.

(iv)     To ensure public engagement in the ongoing development of plans for York Central.

(v)     To put in place effective partnership arrangements to ensure York Central is developed.

(vi)     To secure any investment made by the City of York Council.

(vii)    To create robust delivery arrangements for the York Central project.

(viii)   To provide the partnership with a range of professional advice specifically focussed in the long term benefit interests of the partnership.