Plans to revamp front of York station set to be approved
The plans have been criticised by Historic England, York Civic Trust and train company LNER.
Plans to revamp the front of York railway station are set to be approved.
The plans will see a new road and a multi storey car park built outside the station.
City of York Council’s planning applications are recommended for approval at a meeting next Thursday.
The plans are being opposed by Historic England, York Civic Trust and LNER, which runs the station.
Historic England says they object on heritage grounds and York Civic Trust say there is no justification for building so many parking spaces at the station - saying that there will be 1,300 bays in total when both the four-storey car park and York Central development are completed.
LNER say the project prioritises the roads around the station rather than the rail network.
According to a council report, LNER’s objection says: “The scheme delivers minimal benefit to the station or the wider rail network but instead delivers direct benefits for the highway in and around the station.”
The company also has concerns about parts of the scheme not being finished due to a lack of funding and the impact this could have on station facilities.
But the planning report says the work is critical to improving public transport for residents and visitors.
It says: “The creation of a new taxi rank, relocation of the bus interchange and the rationalisation of short and long stay car parking is critical to the ability to deliver the public transport improvements for those who live in, work in or visit York.”
It adds that the project has been designed to enhance listed buildings and nearby heritage sites.
And it says the benefits of the scheme will outweigh the “less than substantial harm”.
“In general terms, there will be the creation of public spaces and improved setting to the city walls and ramparts and railway station, enhancing the features that make this city so unique.”
The planning application was submitted nearly two years ago, in March 2019.
Funding of £14.5 million was secured in March 2020 from a successful bid by the Leeds City Region to the government’s Transforming Cities Fund to move ahead with the project