Huge new plans for York, including a major hotel, offices, hundreds of homes, a park and a new station entrance have been revealed.
They will form a significant part of the York Central development behind the station.
A reserved matters application has just been submitted for the site.
It includes:
- a six-storey, 213-room hotel with ground floor shops and leisure units
- a new Western Station Entrance building, cycle hub and retail/leisure units
- a new office building
- 999 homes, including 20% affordable, plus shops, in three separate neighbourhood developments
- a new central park
- a new public square.
The £2 billion York Central, which has already secured outline planning approval, is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects.
This is the first time the development has been outlined in full detail. Here’s what’s proposed.
Western entrance to York Station
The Western Station Entrance will be a gateway to York Central and the station. It will offer a direct connection via a bridge provided by Network Rail.
There will also be a covered and secure cycle parking hub for a minimum of 300 cycles, luggage storage, toilet, showering and changing facilities.
Food and drink units and shops are also included.
“This building should be a landmark civic building which creates the entrance to York Central,” the brief says.
Hotel
Connected to the Western Station Entrance is the 213-room hotel, with a ground floor restaurant and bar.
The hotel includes a civic square in front of it. “This element of the scheme becomes a focal point and will be viewed by the 1m visitors to National Railway Museum as well as office workers, commuters and residents,” documents say.
It will include a landscaped rooftop terrace with panoramic views of York.
Office block
A six-storey office block sitting above a ground floor with shops is proposed as the gateway to the commercial quarter of York Central.
Found next to Cinder Street, it will included a glazed lobby and cycle store.
The floor area will be 13,382 sqm (12,827 sqm office space, 555 sqm retail space).
It will be designed with a metalwork frame and will aim to be a sustainable and healthy workplace.
Civic square
Coal Drops Square will be found between the proposed Western Station Entrance, the National Railway Museum and as a gateway to the wider York Central development.
“Coal Drops Square is envisioned as a world-class square for York. At the threshold between the city centre, York Station and York Central, it is a key gateway and a centrally located urban square.
“It will provide a space for city and community events, a space to meet, dwell and socialise.
“Coal Drops Square is more than a public realm – it is a destination in its own right,” says the design brief.
It will stage a year-round programme of events. It could cater for up to
- 1,500 people standing
- 600 seats
- or 50 market stalls.
There is also a proposed water feature, designed to be multifunctional – allowing it to be changed so the space can be used for events.
Central Park
The Central Park has three separate areas:
- Sky Fields – “the space supports informal sports, community events and gatherings, with a terraced seating lawn. Wildflower meadows and native trees add seasonal colour and biodiversity”
- Wander Wilds – “Designed for exploration, it blends play and ecology through meandering paths, playful topography and natural play elements”
- Water Garden – “Pools, aquatic and marginal planting provide habitat richness and seasonal interest, while boardwalks and seating allow visitors to experience the landscape without disturbing sensitive areas”.
Homes – Plot F
“York Central will provide a new city quarter built for life, where a vibrant and distinctive mix of neighbourhoods will make everyone feel at home,” say planning documents.
“Our objective is to establish a community where people can lay down roots and flourish.”
A total of 502 build-to-rent apartments are planned within York Central plots F3 and F4 – known as Cinder Yards.
They will range between one and three-bedrooms, and appeal to a range of people from single occupiers to families. On-site amenities might include communal lounges, a cinema, gym, café and rooftop garden.
Homes – Plot E
Plot E is located along the south west boundary of York Central, with the future Wilton Rise Footbridge in one corner.
It will include 110 flats and 19 townhouses, with between one and four bedroom properties.
Shops and other businesses are also included in this development.
Homes – Plots L and K
This area is bound by Leeman Road to the north, Central Park to the south and existing residential communities to the east.
The two plots together form the Foundry Village Neighbourhood.
Planning documents say this “should provide a broad mix of housing including terraced housing, mews housing, maisonettes, mansion blocks and workspace, with an amount of supportive retail based around a new public space at Foundry Yard”.
The buildings here “take their cue from the industrial heritage in this area surrounding the site, which are predominantly brick”.
“From morning through to evening, this new quarter will feel like a natural continuation of the city – alive with energy, community, and the balance of nature and urban living,” planning documents say.
It will have 368 homes. Of these, 234 units are allocated for sale on the open market, and 134 units are designated as social rent accommodation.
Generate £1.1 billion
The decision from the City of York Council on this phase 1C application is expected in spring 2026, which will determine the delivery programme timeline.
The first phase of delivery will also include the construction of a 134,678 sq ft Government office building and Museum Square, both of which were granted reserved matters planning in 2024.
York Central is a 45 hectare site, equivalent to 64 football pitches, which is larger than the regeneration of London’s Kings Cross.
With over £135 million in Government funding already secured for infrastructure, the development is expected to create up to 6,500 direct and indirect new jobs. York Central is forecast to help grow York’s economy by 20% by adding £1.1bn to the city.
It is being brought forward by joint venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, Homes England and Network Rail, in close collaboration with key stakeholders, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.
Tom Gilman, managing director of McLaren Regeneration, said:
“This represents another important milestone in the planning and delivery process and demonstrates the continuing momentum of this exciting project.
“At a critical time for the nation’s economy – when the Government is issuing a clarion call to “Build, baby, build” – we are moving full steam ahead to deliver essential new homes, work and leisure and establishing a new live-work-play community in one of the biggest milestones in my home city of York’s illustrious history.
“With York Central’s world-class connections, this is a great way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the UK’s railways.”
Allan Cook, Arlington Real Estate, said:
“We’re on a mission to create the perfect city quarter for the people of York, we will deliver an exciting and extraordinary new place that everyone can enjoy.
“While York Central will undoubtedly attract new investment and audiences to this great northern City, we are committed to ensuring we deliver an inclusive place which feels very much part of York, that will appeal just as strongly to existing residents as newcomers, and where everyone will feel equally at home.”
Leon Guyett, director of regeneration partnerships (York), Homes England, said:
“This planning application marks a major milestone for York Central, showing how strategic government investment, over £135 million to date, can unlock transformative regeneration.
“By funding essential infrastructure, we’ve enabled developer partners to bring forward proposals for 2,500 homes, including a proportion of affordable housing. York Central reflects our commitment to working with local authorities and the private sector to turn complex brownfield sites into vibrant new communities that people can be proud of.”
Stephen Hind, head of business development for Network Rail added:
“York Central is a great example of bringing the public and private sectors together to deliver an exceptional new neighbourhood. Having unlocked our rail-led land for this strategic site, we are proud to be partners having laid the foundations to get to this important milestone.”
