York Central, ranked among Britain’s biggest urban regeneration projects, has secured detailed planning approval for its opening phase, opening the way for more than 1,000 new homes, a new commercial district, a hotel and a rebuilt western entrance to York railway station.
Covering more than 110 acres of land that’s sat largely unused for decades, the £2bn scheme amounts to over 40% of the size of York’s existing historic centre. Beyond housing, it will bring office, retail and leisure space, fresh public squares, a large green park, plus a web of courtyards, cycling routes and walkways linking the new quarter into the rest of the city.
This first phase specifically covers 1,014 homes of mixed tenure (20% affordable), the new station entrance and civic square, a 213-bedroom hotel, extensive parkland and public realm, a 99,190 sq ft innovation hub, and 67,447 sq ft of retail and leisure space — on top of the previously approved Museum Square and a 134,000 sq ft Government Property Agency hub expected to house up to 2,600 civil servants.
Construction starts next year
Site investigation work begins imminently, with construction starting next year; the first completed buildings should be ready for occupation by early 2029, with the whole of phase one finished during 2030. Once the entire York Central development is complete, it’s expected to support 6,500 jobs, provide at least 2,500 homes in total, and deliver more than a million square feet of commercial space.
The scheme is being delivered by joint venture partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate on behalf of landowner Network Rail, backed by Platform4 and Homes England, working alongside City of York Council, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Railway Museum. Roadworks, landscaping and new paths for walkers and cyclists have already gone in on site, building on connections to the surrounding transport network that mean the wider region stands to gain, not just York itself.
Officially, the land also carries dual status as a Mayoral Development Zone and Enterprise Zone, underlining its importance well beyond the city.
Turning talk into action
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “York Central is a fantastic opportunity to transform derelict brownfield land into thousands of new homes, jobs, and green spaces, giving more people the chance to live and work in this great city. By unlocking one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country, we’re turning years of talk into action to drive growth in every region, raise living standards and build the homes communities desperately need.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “York Central is going to transform the city, delivering thousands of much-needed new homes, including affordable housing, and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. That’s why it’s a big moment to see these plans move forward. Soon we’ll see York Central take shape and transform how people see our county. This £2 billion project will strengthen our links across the North, and ensure York remains a fantastic place to live, work, and invest for decades to come.”
Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, said: “This is fantastic news for York. Planning approval for phase 1 of York Central is another major step forward for one of the most significant regeneration projects in our city’s history. It brings us closer to delivering the homes, jobs and opportunities that residents want to see and to growing York’s economy, which will benefit communities across our fine city for generations to come.
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this milestone, including those who took the time to engage with the project and shape the proposals. We look forward to working with our partners to turn these plans into reality and ensuring the project reflects the social and economic needs of people across all York communities.”
Long-term thinking
Stephen Hind, Director of Business Development & Sponsorship for Network Rail, said: “York Central shows what’s possible when we make the most of under-used rail land in places where people want to live and work. Network Rail is proud to have played a part in unlocking this brownfield site, releasing land that has been shaped by our railway’s history to now shape the future of York. This is exactly the kind of long-term thinking the country needs to deliver the homes, jobs and growth communities deserve.”
John Gatley, chief executive officer of McLaren Property Group, said: “This is a major step forward in securing a prosperous future for the proud and historic city of York. While it’s the culmination of many years hard work by a committed public and private sector partnership, the real work starts now as we have the green light to convert our vision to reality.
“Now, we look forward to starting work on delivering this brand-new city quarter for the people of York, which will not only provide them with much needed homes and jobs, but will also attract new investment and interest to the city and wider region, leaving a legacy that we can be proud of.”
Tom Bridges, Executive Regional Director for North East, Yorkshire and the Humber at Homes England, said: “York Central is a landmark scheme for the city and for regeneration across the region. This planning approval marks a defining moment for a site that has been decades in the making and reflects the strength of our long-term partnership with Network Rail, City of York Council and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
“As joint landowner, we’ve worked to unlock this brownfield site with a vision to create the homes, jobs and public spaces York needs. With over £135 million of government-funded infrastructure already in place, we now have the foundations to deliver over 1,000 new homes, a new innovation hub and vital public realm in this first phase alone, and we look forward to seeing this vision become reality as construction gets underway.”
Truly transformational
Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to delivering what will be a truly transformational addition not only to the city of York but also the wider regional economy. From the outset, our vision has been to deliver a place that is both worthy of its historical location but also forward looking, providing the space the city and its people need to continue to thrive long into the future.”
Allan Cook, Founder of Arlington Real Estate, said: “Designing and delivering a new city quarter, particularly in a world-renowned place like York, is a fantastic opportunity but also a huge responsibility and I am proud that the work our team have done has been met with such great enthusiasm. York Central has been designed to breathe a different kind of life into this already vibrant city, and this decision allows us to now move into the delivery phase with start on site expected next summer and completion of the first of the buildings in early 2029.”
Craig Bentley, Director of the National Railway Museum, said: “The National Railway Museum is proud to stand in partnership as the cultural heart of York Central and welcomes the exciting next stage of this ground-breaking urban regeneration project. Our transformation of the museum as part of the York Central development will create a new welcome building (Central Hall), a new permanent gallery space, provide level access throughout the museum for the first time and help us share the innovative stories of railways past, present and future as we look to inspire the next generation.”
