York’s historic city centre is set to be ready for the next, and future, millennia.
With funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the council and its partners will reimagine the city centre and develop a ‘city centre spatial plan’ (known as 'Reimagining York Streets, to tell a new story about the city centre').
The plan will identify investment opportunities, development and improvements and will better connect the city centre with change taking place in different locations, such as Coney Street, York Central and the Minster Neighbourhood Plan.
Reimagining York Streets will align with Our City Centre Vision which describes an ambitious future for the city centre, with residents and businesses at the heart of it. The vision for ‘a vibrant city centre, which a wide range of people want to spend time in across the day and night, will create the right conduit will be become a reality through the Reimagining York Streets plan.
Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture said:
We are incredibly proud of our city centre which is already recognised the world over, bucking trends across the country with more visitors and higher shop occupancy than the national and regional average.
"York’s strong and vibrant independent business sector is at the heart of our local economy and this, together with the outstanding festivals and events and beautiful built heritage make the city centre a unique, and much loved, national treasure.
"We are determined to make the city centre the best place it can be for residents and businesses as well as the millions of visitors who are welcomed here every year.
“This new plan, Reimagining York’s Streets, aims to bring economic benefits which will benefit everyone across the city with more skilled jobs, investment, travel and leisure opportunities.
“In the coming months we will start in-depth engagement with residents, businesses and visitors to make sure the city centre is an even better place we can all be proud of, and we want to hear as many voices as possible!”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
York’s city centre is the heart of our region’s economy, culture, and heritage.
"I was pleased to support the Reimagining York Streets plan through the Mayoral Investment Fund, investing in the future and ensuring our city centre remains a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving space for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
"By working together with the community, we can shape a city centre that is not only beautiful and welcoming but also future-ready.”
In October 2024, at the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Committee Meeting, £430k funding from the Mayoral Investment Fund was approved to develop a public realm improvement strategy for city centre public spaces, delivery strategy and identified pipeline of capital regeneration projects.
An officer delegated decision has been made which will start work on developing this strategy. This will include a citywide engagement process to hear from a range of voices as to what they want from the public spaces in York city centre.
Further announcements will be made in the coming months, including details of how everyone can have their say and help shape this plan.
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