McLaren Regeneration Managing Director Tom Gilman was the keynote speaker at the recent launch of the 2026 York Design Awards.

Held at St Peter’s School in York, the 18th edition of the annual awards showcase excellence in architecture, urban design, landscape, conservation and sustainable development across York.

Tom updated the audience on the latest progress at York Central and outlined the core principles and ambitions of the project.

A lively Q&A followed, with key themes including the benefits of York Central to the wider region and how this transformational project is being delivered for the people of York through engagement with local communities and key stakeholders across the city.

It was a privilege to be asked to return to my old school Memorial Hall to talk about the York Central project and the impact it can have on the city and wider region. It was encouraging to see such positive enthusiasm from the audience, and it was a great opportunity to explain the progress we have made
and our ambitions to deliver this transformational development

Tom Gilman, Managing Director, McLaren Regeneration

The awards programme will culminate in a ceremony at York Racecourse in July, where the 2026 winners will be unveiled, continuing the awards’ long-standing role in celebrating the very best of design and placemaking in the city. More information can be found at the York Design Awards website – Entries « York Design Awards.

With York Central forming an important part of the UK’s regeneration landscape, Tom also recently joined the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Annual Conference in London.

At an ‘Investing in Legacy’ panel session, which focussed on some of the UK’s key regeneration projects, Tom talked about the world class ambitions for York Central. The discussions centred around the vision for major urban development schemes, exploring how investment and resilience are addressed and how lasting legacy is built in, as well as how lessons can be learned for future developments, in line with the ULI’s mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

For more information on York Central please visit the website https://yorkcentral.uk/news/