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McLaren Property | Living | Regeneration

We are a leading UK developer with an outstanding track record of delivery in the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation and Living sector. McLaren Property, McLaren Living and McLaren Regeneration have a combined pipeline of £4.8bn across 41 sites, a total of 17,500 homes.

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York Central

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York Central, one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes, is set to be designed by a world-class team of architects, including global masterplan visionaries Allies and Morrison and renowned landscape specialists Grant Associates.
The multi award-winning Allies and Morrison, who developed the original York Central masterplan, has cemented their ongoing role as the project’s lead Architects. The international firm’s notable projects include the regeneration of London’s King’s Cross, BBC Media Village and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Allies and Morrison will continue to work with Joint Venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate on the overall vision and design guide for the 45-hectare site, as well as a new Innovation Hub. The site is being brought forward by majority landowners, Homes England and Network Rail in collaboration with key stakeholders, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.  
Grant Associates, the pioneering international landscape practice, famous for Gardens by the Bay, the 54 hectares of Bay South in Singapore, which attracts 12 million visitors a year, will lead the landscape design of York Central, including the park, public realm and extensive green space, as well as future plans for the coal drops area of the site.
The design team will also include Sheppard Robson, selected to work on the planned Government Property Agency’s (GPA) new 195,000 sq ft government hub, which could be home to up to 2,600 civil servants. 
Cartwright Pickard is one of a group of architects working on the residential elements of the project, alongside the Leeds studio of the national practice Corstorphine &#038; Wright for the Build to Rent and Haworth Tompkins on the affordable homes. 3D Reid have been selected for the hotel and Western Station entrance, while re-form landscape architecture, who have extensive experience of working in York, are set to work on Museum Square and public realm within the first phase of delivery.
Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, said: 
<blockquote>Following a comprehensive competitive process that included both local and international firms, we have carefully selected some of the world’s leading architects and design specialists to work with us and bring our ambitious vision for York Central to life. Key to our decision making was ensuring they all had a proven track record in delivering and working on large scale regeneration schemes, as well as demonstrable experience, knowledge and understanding of York and the surrounding area. 
Now, we are excited to get to work on our plans, with an outstanding architectural team, our partners and the local community, to deliver what will be a vibrant, highly sustainable place, with expansive green space, and public realm, new homes and a major new employment hub for northern England.</blockquote>
Jason Syrett, Partner of Allies and Morrison, said: 
<blockquote>We are delighted to be working with McLaren Property, Arlington Real Estate and the rest of the project team in shaping and delivering York Central. This is such a remarkable brownfield site embedded in the fabric of York and an integral part of its railway industrial heritage. That distinctiveness or ‘Yorkness’ is integral to our shared vision.</blockquote>
About York Central 
York Central, the transformation of one of the largest brownfield sites in England, will deliver 2,500 new homes (at least 20% of which will be affordable) and create up to one million sq ft of office, retail and hospitality space, along with improvements to the York Railway Station and an enhanced National Railway Museum. 
Next to York railway station, York Central has the potential to generate up to 6,500 jobs and will help to grow York’s future economy by 20%, by adding £1.1bn GVA to the city. 
York Central will include extensive park land, public realm and green space, along with vibrant public squares that will connect the new development to the surrounding neighbourhoods and the adjacent York City Centre. 
ENDS 
NOTES TO EDITORS 
Stats and facts, as per outline planning consent: 
•	York Central is one of the largest brownfield sites in England 
•	£135m Government funding has been secured for infrastructure 
•	It has potential for up to 6,500 jobs 
•	Up to 2,500 new homes on brownfield land with 20% affordable will be built 
•	There will be up to 1 million sq ft of office, retail and hospitality space 
•	York Central will include extensive park land, public realm and green space, along with vibrant public squares 
•	York Central will help to help to grow York’s economy by 20%
About York Central  
York Central is one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration sites. The scheme has unprecedented support from Central, Regional and Local government, with £135m already committed to building key up front infrastructure.   
The site is being brought forward by majority landowners, Homes England and Network Rail in collaboration with key stakeholders, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.  
For more information visit: www.yorkcentral.info
Contact 
Naomi Galt &#8211; FTI Consulting 
YorkCentral@fticonsulting.com 
+44(0) 7703 332 326

World-class design team revealed for £2.5 billion York Central Regeneration

Reading Borough Council has approved redevelopment plans for Broad Street Mall. The major town centre regeneration scheme, being progressed by a partnership between McLaren Living, the specialist national developer with a focus on the build-to-rent market, and AEW, one of the world’s largest real estate investment and asset managers[1]. This builds upon a previous consent and will deliver a significantly enhanced scheme, bringing forward a reinvigorated and vibrant neighbourhood. 
The renewed Broad Street Mall will see the southern part of the 4.6-acre site deliver 643 ‘tenure-blind’ market and affordable build-to-rent homes, circa 19,000 sq ft of commercial space primarily comprising retail and leisure uses, a vibrant and enhanced public realm featuring public art and a range of improvements to Broad Street Mall, incorporating an extension to the existing NHS Walk-In Centre.
The four residential buildings will be strategically positioned to the south of Broad Street Mall, tracing the Dusseldorf Way link between the Hexagon and the Minster and integrating into the wider Minster Quarter masterplan, which is also being brought forward by McLaren Living in partnership with Reading Borough Council.
The development will achieve a very high level of environmental performance to minimise its carbon footprint. The buildings will incorporate the use of photovoltaics and air-source heat pumps and each apartment will achieve a minimum EPC rating of B. The development will also achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating in relation to the non-residential parts of the buildings.
The revised masterplan for the redevelopment of Broad Street Mall, designed by AHR Architects, followed substantial pre-application and post-submission engagement. The redevelopment will create a landmark destination for the town, one which celebrates the 20th Century heritage of the urban quarter and reinforces its identity as an arts and culture destination, while aligning with Reading’s 2050 vision and providing a blueprint for placemaking centred around smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 
Since a previous consent was granted for the site, the plans were updated to reflect the latest policy and legislative standards and market needs, including long-term commercial viability and active street frontages, while still delivering a scheme that integrates with the emerging Minster Quarter redevelopment, enabling rejuvenation of the wider town centre in line with the Council’s aspirations. 
Oliver Westray, Development Director of McLaren Living, commented: 
<blockquote>Our approved scheme will regenerate Broad Street Mall and deliver an enhanced and reinvigorated mixed-use neighbourhood, one which will deliver on the council’s plans for the area and align with its vision for the town. 
The approved scheme will allow McLaren Living and AEW to create a renewed and vibrant retail and residential destination, one that will be resilient and sustainable and support the local economy. 
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with AEW and Reading Borough Council post-consent to deliver our vision for the transformation of Broad Street Mall.</blockquote>
Charles Royle, Portfolio Manager at AEW, commented: 
<blockquote>This is a significant milestone for the regeneration of Broad Street Mall, which will create much needed new homes and green spaces for the community in Reading. Our ambition, along with our partners McLaren Living, is to transform this area into a vibrant, new destination for the town, and the receipt of planning brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.</blockquote>
Notes to editors
About McLaren Living:
McLaren Living specialises in residential development, with a focus on the build-to-rent and co-living market, working alongside McLaren Property and its strong track record in the delivery of PBSA. 
Founded in 2020, McLaren Living has an exciting pipeline of over £1.7bn (5,500 homes), while also progressing mixed-use regeneration development opportunities in major cities across the UK. 
McLaren Living works closely with landowners to maximise development value and partners with institutional funders to deliver outstanding, sustainable, community-led residential mixed-use developments. 
McLaren Living is independent of but has a close association with McLaren Construction.
About AEW:
AEW is one of the world&#8217;s largest real estate asset managers, with €79.1bn of assets under management as at 31 December 2024 [2]. AEW has over 860 employees, with its main offices located in Boston, London, Paris and Singapore and offers a wide range of real estate investment products including comingled funds, separate accounts and securities mandates across the full spectrum of investment strategies. AEW represents the real estate asset management platform of Natixis Investment Managers, one of the largest asset managers in the world. 
As at 31 December 2024, AEW managed €36.8bn of real estate assets in Europe on behalf of a number of funds and separate accounts. AEW has 515 employees based in 11 offices across Europe and has a long track record of successfully implementing Core, Value-Add and Opportunistic investment strategies on behalf of its clients. In the last five years, AEW has invested and divested a total volume of almost €15bn of real estate across European markets. 
[1]. Source: “2024 IREI.Q Real Estate Managers Guide”. The Guide, published annually by Institutional Real Estate, Inc., ranks real estate managers based on the gross value of real estate AUM ($m) as of December 31, 2023.
[2]. As of December 31, 2024. AEW includes (i) AEW Capital Management, L.P. and its subsidiaries and (ii) affiliated company AEW Europe and its subsidiaries. AEW Europe and AEW Capital Management, L.P. are commonly owned by Natixis Investment Managers and operate independently from each other. Total AEW AUM of €79.1 billion includes €36.8 billion in assets managed by AEW Europe and its affiliates, €4.6 billion in regulatory assets under management of AEW Capital Management, L.P., and €37.7 billion in assets for which AEW Capital Management, L.P. and its affiliates provide (i) investment management services to a fund or other vehicle that is not primarily investing in securities (e.g., real estate), (ii) non-discretionary investment advisory services (e.g., model portfolios) or (iii) fund management services that do not include providing investment advice.

Broad Street Mall redevelopment plans approved for Reading town centre regeneration

The strategic development partners behind the York Central regeneration project have appointed CHY Consultancy to support the delivery of social impact for this major regeneration project in York.
Established in 2006, CHY Consultancy has extensive experience in helping built environment organisations get better at delivering social value. Director Rob Wolfe will be working alongside Principal Social Value Consultant Holly Onstenk, with the support of the wider team, to lead the design, delivery and measurement of social impact through each development stage of the York Central project. This full cycle, integrated approach is hoped to position York Central as a leading example of what can be achieved for local communities and economies when social impact is foundational to a significant local development.
Rob Wolfe, Director of CHY Consultancy, said: 
<blockquote>The developer’s decision to take a holistic approach to social impact allows us to weave leading practice and innovation into every stage of York Central’s development. This gives us a fantastic opportunity to optimise the benefits of a huge, landmark development for local people and the local economy – creating a legacy that will endure for years to come. It’s an exciting time for CHY and for the City of York. We’re really looking forward to seeing what can be achieved.</blockquote>
Social impact is becoming an increasingly important consideration for all businesses. York Central provides a great opportunity for York businesses interested in social impact, regardless of their size, to get involved as part of a supply chain working collectively to reduce social and economic inequalities. Any interested parties should contact info@chyconsultancy.com for more information.
Karen Stafeckis, Development Director for McLaren Regeneration, one of the strategic development partners for the York Central project added: 
<blockquote>One of the key principles behind the York Central vision is to leverage the opportunities of this significant development for the benefit of the existing communities and local businesses. The appointment of CHY Consultancy will help us to focus on quality social outcomes and identify areas where we have the most opportunity to achieve positive change.</blockquote>
York Central is also supporting the York Community Fund and has committed £150,000 in funds to local good causes in the next three years. This fund has already helped a wide variety of local good causes and organisations, and a second round of funds will be available from August this year. York Central is particularly keen to encourage groups and organisations from the Holgate and Leeman Road areas to come forward and take advantage of funds available from the next round, so that this initiative can have a positive impact to the nearest people to the project. 
York Central is one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK and has the potential to generate up to 6,500 jobs. It is predicted to grow York’s future economy by 20%. The new city quarter development is being led by McLaren Regeneration and Arlington Real Estate, which is working with the wider York Central Partnership of Homes England, Network Rail, National Railway Museum and City of York Council.

York Central appoint social value consultants to maximise community benefits

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McLaren Property | Living | Regeneration

A Reputation Based on Performance

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News & Insights

Keep updated with the latest news & insights and explore the stories shaping our industry and business success.

World-class design team revealed for £2.5 billion York Central Regeneration

World-class design team revealed for £2.5 billion York Central Regeneration

Broad Street Mall redevelopment plans approved for Reading town centre...

York Central appoint social value consultants to maximise community benefits

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of Exceptional
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