Plans for the Castle and Eye of York scheme are set to go before councillors next week (Thursday 11 December) for a decision.
York Council’s application to redevelop the area around Clifford’s Tower will be decided by the authority’s Planning Committee.
The scheme would see the 298-space Castle Car Park closed next spring ahead of works to create a new park, play area, riverside walk and circular path around Clifford’s Tower.
Plans stated the redevelopment would radically enhance the existing setting of the historic tower, along with an attractive public area and improvements for pedestrians.
It comes after the council’s Labour Executive backed changes to the scheme including scrapping a previously planned paved events space and multi-storey car park at St George’s Field.
A pedestrian and cycle footbridge over the River Foss has also been dropped from the plans for financial and environmental reasons.
A 30-space Blue Badge parking area is also included.
The scheme would see an area dubbed The Castle Gardens created along with a new walkway around the base of the mound that Clifford’s Tower sits on top of.
The Gardens include The Swathe, representing the moat which was once at York Castle and the influence of water at the site.
It also includes The Castlegate Garden marking the historic fortress gate entrance which would include sculptural walls in a nod to them.
There would be a memorial space to a Medieval pogrom against Jews at the site.
The 1190 Memorial Space would provide an area for contemplation and commemorates up to 150 Jews who died while seeking refuge in York Castle from a mob surrounding them below.
Interpretations telling the story of the events of 1190 are set to be included along with information about the site’s history but they do not form part of the plans.
The overall cost of the scheme is estimated to be £9.934 million, including hostile vehicle measures and £200,000-worth of improvements to the neighbouring Coppergate Multi-Storey Car Park.
It compares to the almost £16 million council officials believe the earlier version drawn up by the previous Liberal Democrat and Green coalition and approved in 2022 would now cost.
But the current version of the scheme faces a shortfall of up to £1.5 million, with officials set to seek external funding to try and plug the gap.
Closing the gap with council cash remains a fall-back option.
The £200,000 earmarked for improvements to Coppergate’s car park aims to help offset the loss of the Castle site if the scheme goes ahead.
Council estimates put the amount lost from income from the Closure of Castle Car Park at £500,000, though officials believe drivers will mainly use other sites.
Five comments in support of the plans have been lodged, with another five neutral and two objecting.
Supporters welcomed keeping Blue Badge spaces and the reduction in hard spaces in the previous scheme.
Objectors stated the two electric vehicle charging points and cycle parking areas were insufficient, the layout was unappealing and the closure of Castle Car Park would harm city centre businesses.
The council has also faced calls to do more to commemorate the 1190 massacre at the site.
