Extraordinary ‘fly-through’ video reveals York Central vision – with boulevards, public squares and few cars

This is a bird’s-eye view of York Central after its redevelopment.

The video was released today (19 February) to “give a taste of what the ambitious development would bring to York”.

The footage follows one of the key routes through the first phases of residential development, the National Railway Museum’s South Yard, the boulevard within the new central business district and into the new public square.

It brings to life the walkway that would open up the National Railway Museum’s South Yard to people and to extend the new park that forms the central feature of the site.

Artworks and play areas

A further consultation launched on the planning application for the development closes on March 1.

The proposals would see up to 2,500 homes and 87,600 sqm of office space created at the site, with about 6,500 jobs.

A report prepared for the planning application says public artworks inspired by railway heritage will be installed throughout the development and there are also plans for play areas for children and teenagers.

The report says Cinder Street, part of the main route through the plot, would feature shops, cafes and offices.

And the design of the Cinder Yards area in the Station Quarter will “draw inspiration from York’s historic yards and streets/alleys, such as the Shambles and Shambles Market”.

Vibrant neighbourhoods

Tamsin Hart-Jones, project lead from York Central Partnership, said: “It’s great to be able to bring the plans to life in a different way and show the kind of vision we have and are working towards.

“This new footage captures some of the core elements we have been focusing on, specifically creating and connecting communities and establishing vibrant neighbourhoods through a mix of uses and different types of public spaces, to bring this area of the city to life.”

The new visual comes as the City of York Council begins the process of selecting a construction contractor to deliver the first phase of the site infrastructure works, with the stage 1 tender documentation opening for submissions on 18th February.

An outline planning application for the York Central masterplan was submitted in the summer and includes provision for the comprehensive redevelopment of the site including

• homes
• office, retail and leisure uses
• community and hotel uses
• car parking
• a new access road and pedestrian and cycling access points
• open spaces including a Great Park
• and the expansion of the National Railway Museum.

It also includes a new western concourse forming an access to York Railway Station.

Once complete, York Central is expected to increase the size of York’s economy by over 20 per cent and create up to 2,500 homes and around 6,500 jobs.

The project is a collaboration between Homes England, Network Rail, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.