Plans for a brand new Central Hall for the National Railway Museum are being recommended for approval.
The dramatic drum structure is the central highlight of the NRM’s redevelopment vision, which aims to be completed by the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
This in turn is considered the cultural heart of the wider York Central redevelopment.
The plan has attracted 119 objections – alongside 13 supportive comments – but City of York Council planners are saying it should get the green light.
Many of the objections relate to the restricted access arrangements. To allow for the expansion of the museum, a stopping up order has been granted to close Leeman Road.
Meanwhile, a walkway agreement has been drawn up. This gives pedestrians the right to walk through the museum on most of the days when it is open, to make up for the loss of the direct Leeman Road route to and from town.
Access objections include:
- Residents need access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, but the opening hours as stated are Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
- Walkway access can be closed up to 10 times a year, excludes dogs, dismounted cyclists, some types of mobility aid and allows personal property to be searched
- The existing riverside walk is not a viable alternative, it is longer, poorly lit, unsafe and often impassable due to flooding
- The new road through York Central will be three times longer, congested and indirect – that will encourage use of motor vehicles rather than walking and cycling
- The closure of Leeman Road means loss of public access for everyone who uses it for essential access by bus, walking, cycling, mobility aid, or private vehicle.
In their report, council officers say that the Leeman Road stopping up order and the walkway agreement have already been agreed. That means they are not to be considered as part of this Central Hall planning application.
However, they do express concerns that residents using the walkway could end up stuck in queues of visitors waiting to enter the museum. They want mitigation measures put in place to avoid this.
The council’s own figures show there will be increased journey times by car due to both the more circuitous route through York Central and the extra cars coming to the NRM.
But these have already been assessed and considered acceptable as part of the approval of outline consent for York Central.
Demolishing buildings
The Central Hall application requests permission to demolish several buildings. Historic England and the council’s conservation officer, “whilst not objecting to the scheme, remain concerned regarding the loss of the mess room and isolation of the Bullnose building”, the report says.
It goes on: “Whilst the loss of the non-designated mess room is unfortunate officers are satisfied that the applicants have justified their approach.”
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The recommendation for approval has been welcomed by the director of the National Railway Museum, Judith McNicol.
She said: “The proposals for Central Hall are a once in a generation opportunity to create the ‘world’s railway museum’ in York. Central Hall is a key part of our Vision 2025, which aims to inspire the next generation and offer many learning and education opportunities, as well as being a major boost to the city’s economy.
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“Our plans will enable the museum to be the cultural heart of York Central and significantly improve the environment around the museum, and complement other improvements around the station, through this high-quality, sustainable development.
“The museum is already an important part of York’s railway history. But we are more than a visitor attraction and window on our past.
“Our transformation will make the museum a critical part of the city’s rail present and future – from the Railway Futures Gallery within Central Hall, providing a showcase for York’s railway industries and innovation, to Wonderlab inspiring the railway engineers of the future.”
The plans go before the City of York Council planning committee on Monday, 20 June. You can read the agenda and report here.