Helmsley Group’s Coney Street Riverside masterplan has been given the green light.
At a meeting of City of York Council’s planning committee, members commended Helmsley’s approach to community engagement, said its vision would revitalise a neglected area, and described the scheme as a “fantastic use of unused space.”
Concluding the discussion, Councillor Jonny Crawshaw, chair of the planning committee, said it was positive that Helmsley planned to sensitively put listed buildings back into use.
“This scheme is long overdue and is a really positive thing for York,” he said.
Members voted both the masterplan planning application and a separate listed building application through with overwhelming majorities.
The Coney Street Masterplan, led by the York-based property specialist, will see the creation of 250,000 sq ft of mixed-use retail, leisure, commercial and residential space.
A riverside walkway will be established alongside nationally significant green and accessible public realm, both on the waterfront itself and also through the creation and rejuvenation of historic lanes and passageways between Coney Street and the River Ouse.
Situated in York’s Central Conservation Area, the site consists of 19-33 Coney Street and 39 Coney Street to 2 Spurriergate and includes four listed buildings and two buildings of merit, and is in close proximity to a number of other listed buildings and buildings of importance.
The planning committee heard from supporters of the scheme, including Flick Williams, a prominent York disability campaigner, who described Helmsley’s approach to inclusivity as “a breath of fresh air.”
“I would like to commend and thank Helmsley for its inclusive approach,” she said. “Going forward they should stand as a beacon and example to others when they approach inclusive design.”
Andrew Lowson, executive director of York BID, also spoke in favour on behalf of the organisation, and said the Coney Street Riverside masterplan was an exciting opportunity to breathe new life into one of York’s most important areas.
Following the meeting, Max Reeves, development director at Helmsley Group, thanked everyone who had supported and been involved in the scheme to date.
Max said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the planning committee approved both the full application for our Coney Street Riverside masterplan and also the separate listed building application.
“As a business based in York and with more than 40 years of experience delivering impactful development, we have always said that we are committed to this scheme for the long term and that it will bring many positive benefits to the city and wider region.
“We are pleased that these factors were taken into consideration by the planning committee alongside our positive efforts working together with City of York Council, the public and stakeholders to ensure these plans are shaped collaboratively and supported.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to sensitively and sustainably redevelop historic Coney Street into the social heart of York and reconnect it with its riverfront.
“We now look forward to moving forward with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in continued partnership with others to deliver this truly mixed-use, vibrant development.”
Subject to planning conditions, Helmsley aims to start on site by 2026. A separate planning application for another, smaller area of the site is expected to be approved within weeks.
The masterplan will now be formally approved, subject to the Secretary of State not calling in parts of the application relating to listed buildings.
The project team for the scheme includes Helmsley Group, brown + company, O’Neill Associates, Corstorphine and Wright, Montagu Evans, Aspect4, Gillespies, Troup Bywaters & Anders, Billinghurst George & Partners, Jane Simpson Access, Knight Frank, DS Emotion and Aberfield Communications.
