Revamp of landmark building to drive city’s digital revolution

York Council’s cabinet this week agreed the funding of four new projects through its Economic Infrastructure Fund, which it is hoped will mark a major step forward in the city’s aim to be a national leader in science and technology industries.

The bulk of the cash is to be invested in a digital media and cultural centre for up to 250 small businesses over a five-year period at the iconic derelict Grade II listed Bonding Warehouse which was built in 1875.

The other schemes to benefit include a £200,000 investment in the Reinvigorate York project to improve the city’s public realm, and £80,000 for the Science City York to help boost the hi-tech industries sector.

More than 35,000 workers are employed across science and technology-related sectors in North Yorkshire, and almost 30 per cent more work in creative industries than in agriculture.

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for planning, transport and sustainability, said the plans – which it is hoped will attract an additional £2m of external investment – were of vital importance to driving its burgeoning technology industry forward.

“This is an extremely important initiative,” he said.

“We know there is a shortage of appropriate premises in the city centre for small businesses but clearly York has been doing very well in the technological market

“It is such an iconic building but it is derelict and it would be really nice to see it bought back into use.

“This will significantly help us move on.

“We have got very good start-up businesses, this will help cement that.”

The council says negotiations are currently taking place with the owners of the historic riverside building next to Skeldergate Bridge to take over the site.

Meanwhile, at a speech at York’s Mansion House on Wednesday night, Coun James Alexander, the leader of York Council, stressed plans to provide super-fast broadband to every home and business in the city were close to coming to fruition.

Coun Alexander said: “We are close to finalising implementation plans with private sector partners for £30m of investment in fibre to all premises in York and the provision of wi-fi throughout the city centre.

“This will make us the most digitally connected city, by a mile, in the UK.

“ And we have initiatives in place to make sure we exploit our great digital connectivity.”

It is hoped that the network will be available to firms and homes within the next four years, giving residents and business owners the chance to subscribe to superfast connectivity up to 10 times faster than the average internet links currently in the city of about eight megabytes per second.

York already ranks among the top 10 cities in the UK for broadband coverage, although many parts of the region are lagging behind.

Yorkshire has the lowest rates of internet connection in the country – 64 per cent of people are online compared with a national average of 71 per cent

The £28.5m Economic Infrastucture Fund was established by the council in April this year, to provide funding for projects of strategic importance to the city’s ambitions, in creating jobs and growing the economy.

“The Economic Infrastructure Fund was created to kick-start key projects for the city that otherwise would not be possible in the difficult current economic climate,” Coun Alexander added.

“These new projects would leverage over £2 million of external funding into the city, and create over 500 jobs.

“This would signal a significant step forward in delivering on our priority to ensure the viability of the city is secured long term.”