City centre eyesore to be demolished and replaced by offices and apartments

AIM-listed regional property investor Palace Capital wants to demolish Hudson House in Toft Green, York, and replace it with three apartment blocks and an office building at an estimated cost of £30m.

Hudson House is a 1960s brutalist office building comprising approximately 103,000 sq ft.

It is the third application the company has submitted to the council. It has already gained planning approval for converting the existing building into residential and offices.

However, following further consultation, the company said it would prefer to demolish the existing building and create 127 apartments, 34,000 sq ft of offices plus 5,000 sq ft net of commercial space and 97 car parking spaces.

There will be a landscaped route through the site which will connect the railway station to Toft Green and Micklegate.

Neil Sinclair, chief executive of Palace Capital, told The Yorkshire Post the firm had decided it was more viable and sustainable to build new rather than convert an existing building.

He added that the site’s close proximity to the train station would make it attractive to companies with offices in Edinburgh and London as well as those looking for city centre premises.

“We have been very encouraged with the feedback we have had during the pre-application consultation process,” he said.

“The overwhelming view of local residents and businesses around the site is that they would like to see this area transformed and improved.”

Hudson House has just over 100,000 sq ft of offices but is now only about 30 per cent occupied as tenants slowly vacate the building. Make it York supports the application. Head of businesses Andrew Sharp said: “The proposals (provide) a great opportunity to attract new investment.”