The ODPM has given the go-ahead to the £150m Hungate mixed-use scheme that will see the creation of a new urban neighbourhood within York’s city walls.
The development – on a 10-acre brown field site – has been brought forward by Hungate (York) Regeneration a joint venture between Crosby Homes (Yorkshire), Land Securities and Evans Property Group.
In July, York council’s planning committee referred the outline planning application to the ODPM because the proposals are a departure from the council’s development plan.
When complete the scheme will comprise:
· 720 residential units,
· 120,000 sq ft of office space,
· 70,000 sq ft of retail and leisure units,
· a community building,
· a new footbridge over the River Foss,
· a riverside piazza
· and a new public square that will become the largest in the city.
The pedestrian-friendly development will have facilities to encourage car sharing and use of bicycles and includes a detailed package of environmental enhancements for the river and a neighbouring nature reserve.
Phil Darcy, managing director of Crosby Homes (Yorkshire), said, “We welcome this excellent news as it comes as an endorsement of our proposals and gives us the green light to start work on the detailed plans for the long-awaited regeneration of this run-down area of the city.”
He added, “We now hope to be on site early next year with the start of the archaeological works that are an integral part of the development programme.”
References: EGi News 28/09/05
