Issue details

Purpose of report: This report relates to a small piece of land adjacent to 17-21 Piccadilly which the council recently purchased from Yorkshire Housing. The purchase of the land was approved by the Executive Member in 2015, as although the council benefited from a right of access across it, the formal acquisition increases the council’s future development value of the whole site. Following the conclusion of legal negotiations with Yorkshire Housing the purchase completed in September 2017.

In November 2016, the Executive approved offering Spark:York a short term tenancy of 17-21 Piccadilly until the end of June 2020 to operate a pop-up development for start-up businesses. This is to animate the site and drive footfall in to the Castle Gateway regeneration area whilst the area masterplan and site’s future development options are approved, planning permissions achieved, and delivery models agreed.

The purpose of this report is to recommend the inclusion of the small piece of newly acquired land in the red line boundary of the lease of 17-21 Piccadilly to Spark:York. This will formalise their existing right of access to 17-21 Piccadilly, and would also facilitate improved disabled access to the completed Spark:York scheme. It would also transfer responsibility for its upkeep from the council to Spark:York for the duration of the lease, reducing the council’s liability.

The Executive Member will be asked to: Include a small piece of adjoining land which the council recently acquired from Yorkshire Housing within the lease of 17-21 Piccadilly to Spark:York.