Concerns over plans to revamp historic street

Concerns have been raised over plans to revamp historic buildings along a waterfront and popular shopping destination.

Developers Helmsley Group have submitted proposals for Coney Street in York, which city councillors will discuss on 24 October.

The plans propose demolishing Boots and the back of WH Smith to link Coney Street to a new waterfront area, which would be named Waterloo Place, and a riverside walkway.

Twelve objections have been lodged against the plans, including from York Georgian Society, the Twentieth Century Society and the Council of British Archaeology over the impact on heritage.

Council highways officers have also raised concerns about the location of disabled parking spaces while others have called for more residential accommodation.

But company development director Max Reeves said they were optimistic the plans would get the green light, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

He said: “We know that this development would not only be welcomed but is needed, and will bring significant benefits, including increased visitor numbers, vital public green space, job creation and more city centre spend.

“It will build on our long-held ambition to revitalise Coney Street and reconnect it with its riverfront, alongside creating a welcoming, family-friendly offer and much-needed accommodation to meet student demand within the city."

He added: “We are looking forward to creating first class public spaces, and architecture which ensures that the history and heritage of the area is not just recognised, but honoured and protected.”

The development would be able to go ahead if the council’s planning committee approves the application, provided it is not called in by government ministers on listed building grounds.

New retail and leisure spaces would feature in new buildings between three and five storeys high, with one block up to six storeys tall.

Upper floors of the new buildings would be occupied by 358 rooms for students, with communal areas including a cinema, gym, yoga studio and common rooms also included.

A council report on the plans stated that opening up the riverside would bring significant benefits while student accommodation would make better use of empty parts of Coney Street buildings.

The plans have also been welcomed by organisations including York’s Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District (BID) and the city’s Civic Trust.

The latter stated the development would end a century of disconnection of Coney Street and the River Ouse.

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