CEG’s Head of Development (North) Karen Stafeckis joins McLaren Property’s York Central development team to advance one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes

Karen Stafeckis has been appointed as Development Director of York Central, one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes.

The expanded team will operate under Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, and will collaborate closely with Allan Cook, founder of Arlington Real Estate, the strategic development partners of York Central.

Together, they will drive the transformation of one of the largest brownfield sites in England, working with Homes England and Network Rail Property, as well as key partners including the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.

York Central will deliver 2,500 new homes (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 and covering 45 hectares, 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.

Stafeckis will have a strategic role within the York Central team, which includes Jack Widdup, a current Development Director at McLaren Living, who will focus on York Central, and Joseph Young, a recent graduate joining as a Development Surveyor.

Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, said: “York Central is a significant project for York and the UK, which will transform one of the largest brownfield sites into a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use community.

We are assembling a strong team composed of experienced professionals, with expertise and insights gained from major regional regeneration projects and broad sector knowledge. I welcome Karen, Jack and Joseph to the team and very much look forward to working together to deliver an outstanding new quarter for the city of York.

Karen Stafeckis, Development Director, McLaren Property, said:

York Central is one the UK’s most exciting regeneration projects, with huge opportunity and potential. I’m really looking forward to working with Tom and the team, our partners, stakeholders and local people to deliver our vision for a highly sustainable place, full of life, vitality and community.
“A key focus for me is to embed and deliver upon the generational environmental and social sustainability commitments and opportunities that this development presents.

Stafeckis brings extensive experience from her previous role as Head of Development (North) at CEG – formerly Commercial Estates Group – where she was responsible for significant regeneration projects and partnerships across brownfield land in Leeds and has been involved in the climate agenda both at CEG and with the Leeds Climate Commission.

She will be primarily responsible for the environmental and social sustainability opportunities for all elements of the York Central project, to deliver a highly sustainable place and community.

Widdup will leverage his experience in the residential sector, focussing on the Build to Rent and Co-Living markets. His role will be critical in guiding the project’s residential strategy and ensuring the successful delivery of the housing component of York Central. Joseph Young, having recently completed his MSc Real Estate Finance at the University of Reading, will support the team across all elements of the development process.

The one million square feet of new offices, retail and leisure uses, to the rear of York station, will create a major new employment hub for northern England. Including a potential Government Property Agency (GPA) new 195,000 sq ft government hub, which could be home to up to 2,600 civil servants.

York Central will include 18 + acres of park land and public realm, with 50% of the rejuvenated site set to be green space, along with vibrant public squares that will connect the new development to the surrounding neighbourhoods and the adjacent York City Centre.