York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has pledged support to Helmsley Group’s Coney Street Riverside masterplan.

The business support organisation, alongside the York & North Yorkshire Property Forum lobby group, has urged York City Council to approve the planning applications submitted by the York-based property specialist for the scheme. Proposals for the regeneration project include the creation of 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial and residential space.

Laurence Beardmore, president of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We believe these plans will help to regenerate this part of the city centre in a manner sympathetic to the environment and heritage of our city. It represents a major investment in York that will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike.

“The new riverside access along with retail and leisure destinations will contribute to the continued improvement of York city centre and vastly improve the public realm in the area.

“These plans will also provide significant economic benefits to the city including the creation of both jobs and increased economic opportunities and will act as a catalyst for further investment and improvements throughout the city centre.”

Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “We are grateful to both York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and York Property Forum for pledging their public support to our vision for Coney Street Riverside.”

He added: “Both are influential groups within York and across the wider region as well as being representative of hundreds of leading organisations and people."

Coney Street Riverside scheme in York is backed by York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce