FAQs

York Central is one of the largest brownfield sites in England. Located next to the city’s existing retail and business core and the railway station, the 45 hectare mixed-use development site has the potential to bring a valuable piece of York city centre to life.

It is a project of huge ambition which will transform underused land into vibrant and distinctive residential neighbourhoods, cultural spaces, and a high-quality commercial quarter to the heart of one of the UK’s most historic and desirable cities. It will also power York’s economy into the future, helping to provide the homes the city needs and grow its economy by 20%.

The National Railway Museum will be the cultural heart of the new development and together they will encourage further cultural and economic growth and connect the city’s residents and visitors.

York Central is being brought forward through a partnership of Homes England, Network Rail, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. These four partners bring together funding streams to support the delivery of infrastructure and land assembly, and are working collaboratively to support the development of York Central. Together they will create the masterplan for the site and manage the subsequent delivery of all development.

A masterplan is the beginning of a process. It is a flexible framework built on strong principles which will guide future development and help to safeguard quality and site heritage. It is not a fixed plan for the final buildings which will be constructed, but will establish the criteria that investors and developers must satisfy if they wish to put forward plans, ensuring that any future development is right for the city.

What the masterplan will decide is a preferred access option, the basic infrastructure and layout, public realm and how the site will link to surrounding neighbourhoods. It will also agree the mix of development for the site (residential/ leisure/ commercial), together with guidance on where the mix might be flexible, maximum building height and massing guidelines.