Strategy to bolster access to city’s major brownfield sites

Councillors met yesterday to discuss the access proposals for the former British Sugar and York Central sites, which have been pinpointed as key to helping drive forward the city’s economy and address a critical lack of affordable housing.

Access to both sites is currently limited by rail lines, and the proposals would look towards attracting public funding to improve the roads infrastructure with new bridges as well as increasing links for cyclists and pedestrians.

York Council’s cabinet member for city strategy, Coun Dave Merrett, said: “Publication of these transport proposals is an important further step forward in identifying how we can best manage the significant transport issues that will arise from development of the British Sugar and York Central sites.

“With this clear transport approach, we will be one step nearer getting these key brownfield sites brought into use for York’s employment and housing needs.”

The two sites, which cover about 185 acres and are collectively known as York North West, will accommodate half of York’s office employment needs and up to 2,500 new homes. However, the £1bn York Central development in particular has been badly hit by the economic slump. The search for a developer was halted in 2009, prompting concerns over the future of the scheme. A team of experts was recruited last year to draw up a blueprint to get the development back on track.