Grant Associates appointed to help regenerate York Central

Renowned landscape architects Grant Associates have been appointed as part of the core design team to work on the £2.5 billion city centre regeneration scheme, York Central.

The project sees the transformation of one of England’s largest brownfield sites, which will deliver 2,500 new homes – at least 20% of which will be affordable. The plans include one million sq. feet of office, retail, and hospitality space and both York Railway Station and the National Railway Museum will see enhancements as part of the development.

Grant Associates is tasked with evolving the park, public realm and extensive green space outside the new 195,000 sq ft government hub, creating vibrant public squares alongside future plans for the coal drops area of the site.

The practice forms a world-class multi-disciplinary design team including masterplan experts and lead architect, Allies and Morrison. Sheppard Robson have been 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 Leeds 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 ReForm, who have extensive experience of working in York, are set to work on the Museum Square and public realm within the first phase of delivery.

Peter Chimel, Director at Grant Associates, said:

"We’re proud to be part of the world-class design team behind the sustainable, community-focused York Central regeneration project. We look forward to contributing our expertise in designing exemplary public realm networks, civic squares, and major parks. Our aim is to help create vibrant, connected communities, celebrate heritage, support urban ecology, and deliver climate-resilient 'landscape cities' through innovative green infrastructure."

Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, adds:

“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.”

With offices in Bath and Singapore, Grant Associates is an award-winning landscape architecture firm that is guided by its vision to connect people to nature through landscape design.

Placing environmental and societal responsibilities at the heart of its efforts, the practice has an expansive and diverse portfolio including Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, the Tower of London Superbloom project, Birmingham Paradise and Bristol Harbourside. 

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Editors notes

About Grant Associates

Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice, whose work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction. Grant Associates’ design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology. The practice combines original thinking, creative collaboration and regenerative design to breathe new life into our cities and landscapes.

For more information visit https://grant-associates.uk.com/

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