More than 200 homes could be built at a long-vacant city centre site that was once the target of protest squat.
York developer Persimmon has submitted plans to build 240 flats next to the York Barbican and StayCity hotel.
The 2.2 acre site was cleared after the Barbican swimming pool closed in 2004 and has been empty ever since.
In 2021, squatters moved onto the site, saying it should be returned to the city for social housing after being undeveloped for so long.
Two years later, Persimmon revealed they were in talks with City of York Council to build on the land.
Now their full plans have been submitted. These would see a large four and five-storey block of flats built facing onto Barbican Road. It comes with a roof garden.
And there’s a separate, smaller block facing Fawcett Street.
The accommodation breaks down as follows:
- studio flats – 28 (6 affordable)
- 1-bed – 145 (36 affordable)
- 2-bed – 59 (10 affordable)
- 3-bed – 8 (0 affordable)
Planning documents state: “The proposed development ranges from 4 to 5-storeys on the Barbican Road Block and 3- storeys on the Fawcett Street block.
“A stepped roofline responds to the surrounding built context and reduces scale and breaks up the mass of the building.
“The central portion of the 4th storey is dropped to reduce the impact on the adjacent two to three storey dwellings on Barbican Road, whilst presenting an opportunity to provide additional outdoor amenity space in the form of a communal roof terrace.
“The roof terrace has been designed to prevent overlooking of residential facades on Barbican Road.”
The Fawcett Street block, of 12 apartments, will come with a space on the ground floor for community use.
And there will be public open space around the Barbican Road block.
It adds: “A private residential amenity space is located between the Aparthotel and proposed development.
“This space is designed to be a social hub for residents and incorporates various areas of seating, as well a central area for community events enhanced by a pergola.”
Persimmon is planning to launch a consultation website about its plans.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.