The approval of plans for more than 1,000 homes, a new hotel, station entrance and offices has been hailed as a significant milestone for a major York regeneration scheme.

City of York Council’s planning committee’s approval of plans for York Central marks a step forward in the regeneration of one of the UK’s largest brownfield sites.

Tom Gilman, managing director of McLaren Regeneration which is one of the developers leading the project, said the end result would be of, for and loved by York.

But Coun Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Labour ward councillor Holgate, said existing residents should be considered throughout the coming works and called for more affordable housing in future phases of the scheme.

An impression showing how homes at York Central could look.

placeholder image — An impression showing how homes at York Central could look.

Approval of the plans on Thursday, September 10 paves the way for work to begin on a portion of the scheme which first got outline planning permission in 2019.

The £2bn scheme, led by developers McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, covers 45 hectares and would see at least 2,500 homes built.

It would grow the city’s economy by a fifth, adding around £1.1 billion, and create around 6,500 jobs.

The expansion of the National Railway Museum with a new Central Hall is also part of the project.

Plans approved on Thursday form the final part of the first phase of the scheme, following infrastructure works and the approval of a Government Hub set for completion in 2028.

Thursday’s decision also follows the approval of the new Wilton Rise footbridge which will span railway lines between the development and Holgate.

The latest application features a 213-bed three or four star hotel, a new entrance at the western end of York Station and seven-storey Innovation Hub office block.

An operator for the hotel has yet to be named.

They would all face onto a new public space dubbed Coal Drops Square and the area would also feature shops and leisure spaces on the ground floor of the buildings.

A total of 1,014 homes would be built across three plots, along with a convenience store.

A new park is also planned.

Councillors heard on Thursday features inspired by York had been included in the design of the development including new Snickleways, the collective term for the city’s snickets, alleys and ginnels.

Holgate ward’s Coun Steels-Walshaw said the development must be a place where families feel like they can belong and not one that pushes people out.

She added consideration must be given to residents who would have to live with the daily reality of works on the development and controls were needed to manage disruption.

The councillor, whose ward covers the site, said: “In 2019 councillors said 20 per cent of homes on the site being affordable was poor, it’s still quite poor.

“York needs genuinely affordable homes, we must remain committed to having 40 per cent affordable homes at York Central, it’s not a target it’s a responsibility.”

Mr Gilman said work was underway to secure grants to help bridge the gap between 20 and 40 per cent affordable homes.

The managing director told Thursday’s meeting: “The development will deliver a mix of one, two, three and four-bed homes with different tenures and price points.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Gilman said developers were striving to build a scheme that was both worthy of its historic location and also distinctly forward-looking

The managing director said: “This marks a significant milestone in our journey to delivering what will be a truly transformational addition not only to the city of York but also the wider regional economy.”