New snickleway planned as part of ambitious York riverside development scheme

The Riverside masterplan seeks to create 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial, residential and student space, alongside extensive public realm.

The plans, submitted to City of York Council, feature numbers 3-7 Coney Street and include proposals to create a new snickelway connecting Coney Street to the riverside walkway outlined in the initial planning application.

A snickleway is a York term for an narrow alleyway or ginnel.

It is intended that the new riverside connection will create a route by which the River Ouse can be accessed.

The land is currently used for bin storage and is not utilised by the general public, meaning opening up the new connection will re-connect Coney Street to the river.

The development will open up the ground floor of 5 Coney Street and create access through to the new snickelway and the riverfront. The existing shopfronts of the listed buildings at 3-7 Coney Street will also be sensitivity regenerated to reflect their historic character.

In addition to the creation of additional public realm through the introduction of the access route, the plans also introduce residential apartments into the currently unused upper floors of buildings 3-7.

Retail space of a size aimed at independent businesses is proposed on the ground floors, and the creation of the new ginnel will allow for the introduction of new restaurants or cafés with external seating.

Helmsley Group is working with current tenants on Coney Street to relocate them within the existing scheme, should they wish to retain a presence.

Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “This further planning application forms part of our long-held ambition to reconnect Coney Street with its riverfront, create much-needed public realm of national standing and improve both connectivity and accessibility within central York. It builds on our vision to honour the area’s rich heritage while sensitively taking the necessary strides required to secure its long-term future.

“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvigorate a much-loved but sadly under-appreciated area of the city centre, and one that has played such an important role in York’s history to date.”