Planning approval unlocks next phase of York Central

Detailed planning approval has been granted for the first phase of York Central, marking a major milestone for one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration projects.

City of York Council has approved plans for the first homes, commercial spaces, extensive parkland and public realm, alongside a new western entrance to York railway station.

Grant Associates has played a significant role in shaping the landscape and public realm strategy for the £2 billion York Central regeneration, following its appointment by McLaren Regeneration in 2025 after a competitive design process. The practice has worked closely with McLaren and a multidisciplinary team led by masterplanners Allies and Morrison.

Set on a 45-hectare brownfield site beside York railway station, York Central is one of the UK’s most significant city-centre regeneration projects. The development will create a new mixed-use quarter equivalent to more than 40% of the size of York’s historic city centre, with at least 2,500 homes, more than one million sq ft of commercial space and an estimated 6,500 jobs.

The approved first phase will deliver 1,014 mixed-tenure homes, including 20% affordable housing, alongside a 213-bedroom hotel, a 99,190 sq ft innovation hub and 67,447 sq ft of retail and leisure space.

Landscape and green infrastructure provide the framework for the new quarter. A network of parkland, civic spaces, streets and courtyards will create a sequence of distinctive places, opening up new routes between York railway station, the National Railway Museum and the wider city.

Central Park and Coal Drops Square are two defining elements of this landscape-led approach.

Central Park will create a major new green space through the development, bringing nature into the heart of York Central and providing opportunities for recreation, play and everyday use. As a key piece of green and blue infrastructure, the park will support biodiversity and climate resilience while creating attractive walking and cycling connections across the site.

Coal Drops Square will create a new civic space at the western entrance to York railway station, transforming what has historically been the rear of the station into a new frontage and gateway for York Central. Generous planting and stepped terraces will frame flexible spaces for meeting, socialising and events, while creating a stronger pedestrian link to the National Railway Museum.

Drawing on the site’s distinctive railway heritage, Grant Associates’ landscape strategy reimagines York Central as a journey through a series of characterful public spaces, where the industrial legacy of the site is brought together with nature to create a greener, more welcoming and inclusive part of York.

Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, said:

“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to delivering what will be a truly transformational addition not only to the city of York but also the wider regional economy.

“From the outset, our vision has been to deliver a place that is both worthy of its historical location but also forward looking, providing the space the city and its people need to continue to thrive long into the future.”

York Central is being brought forward by joint venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate on behalf of landowners Homes England and Network Rail, working closely with City of York Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Railway Museum.

Construction is expected to start next year following site investigation works. The first buildings are expected to be ready for occupation in early 2029, with phase one due to complete during 2030.

Peter Chmiel, Director at Grant Associates, said:

“This approval is an exciting milestone for York Central and its future landscape vison of fostering a new community supported by a nature rich public realm . Central Park and Coal Drops Square will be at the heart of this remarkable site and new community, creating generous inclusive and active public spaces that connect people with the city, its railway heritage and each other.”

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Editors notes

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.