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 & 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:

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.

Jason Syrett, Partner of Allies and Morrison, said:

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.

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 – FTI Consulting
YorkCentral@fticonsulting.com
+44(0) 7703 332 326