£55m city gateway ‘vital to economy’
YORK: Multi-million pound plans to transform the area around a famous medieval monuments has been heralded as “crucial” to the city’s economy.
Councillors have given the go-ahead to the first phase of the £55m Castle Gateway project which is centred on the area around the world-famous Clifford’s Tower.
A MULTI-MILLION pound bid to transform the district around one of the North of England’s most famous medieval monuments has been heralded as “crucial” to York’s economy.
Councillors have given the goahead to the first phase of the £55m Castle Gateway project which is centred on the area around the world-famous Clifford’s Tower.
The decision on Tuesday evening to approve plans for a host of developments is aimed at freeing up land around the last remaining parts of York’s medieval castle, while also attracting fledgling enterprises to a business development as well as providing new homes to tackle the city’s notoriously expensive property market.
Coun Nigel Ayre, the council’s Liberal Democrat executive member for finance and performance, said: “It’s been one of the most talked-about and controversial areas in the city for some considerable time.
“The private sector has attempted at length to bring forward proposals that have very rarely got the support of residents, very rarely been able to get across the line.
“That’s not to say there isn’t a significant amount of risk. There is significant short-term borrowing and that’s something that we need to acknowledge.”
He added: “The council has played a pivotal role to lead this transformation, ending decades of failed proposals led by the private sector.”
The plans for the Castle Gateway
scheme include a multistorey car park being built at St George’s Field, a new bridge over the River Foss, 106 apartments at Castle Mills and a public park behind the Castle Museum.
It will also bring a new pedestrian cycle crossing over the inner
The council has played a pivotal role to lead this transformation.
Coun Nigel Ayre, York Council’s executive member for finance and performance.
ring-road and new commercial spaces for small independent traders and businesses.
Planning applications have already been submitted for the majority of phase one, with further decisions expected to be taken later in the year.
While the initial stage has been approved by the council, the Environment Agency has warned the planned buildings lie between flood zone two and three, the medium and high probability zones.
The council has stressed an indepth assessment will be undertaken after the agency asked for more detailed plans.
The report to the council’s executive said that the plans were not without risk, especially as the authority is set to borrow £45.8m to finance the scheme, which will be repaid using money from the sale of the apartments and rent paid by shops and restaurants in the development.
The executive is committing £2.15m to appoint a contractor to carry out the next stage of design work to finalise the costs, before a further report is considered by the council.