A vision of a major regeneration project in the heart of York has been revealed.
Coney Street Riverside, a 250,000 sq ft mixed use proposal, is the latest scheme from city-based property investor and developer, Helmsley Group. It features retail, leisure, commercial, and residential space, a riverside walkway and the establishment of significant green and accessible public realm.
The plans are the realisation of a 50 year ambition to create a riverside walkway and are described as further bolstering York’s recently secured title as the Best City to Visit in the UK. As well as repurposing underutilised and vacant upper floors, the scheme will also deliver new build elements providing additional student accommodation.
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Max Reeves, development director at Helmsley Group, said: “Our Coney Street Riverside plans are the culmination of a strategic programme of site assembly over the last three years. We’re now ready to share our vision to sustainably redevelop this historic thoroughfare into the social heart of York, creating new public realm for the city whilst ensuring that the history and heritage of the area is not just recognised, but honoured and protected.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sensitively preserve Coney Street’s story, while blending new architecture seamlessly with the area’s unique historical and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. Since as far back as the Roman times, the River Ouse has played a fundamental role in shaping York’s history, and we want to honour that special connection by reconnecting this currently under-loved area of the city centre with the riverside that it once benefitted so much from.”
Helmsley boasts more than four decades of experience in delivery, having been behind prominent projects across York’s riverfront, including Merchant’s Exchange, the Old Fire Station and Westgate.
The masterplan has been shaped collaboratively with input from key city stakeholders and proposals have now gone on display to the public.
Comprising units 1-7, 19-33 and 39-43 Coney Street, the development looks to build on the street’s long heritage as a thriving hub of commerce, culture and community while opening it up and reconnecting this area of the city with the river. Centred around three pillars of economic, social and environmental sustainability, Mr Reeves said benefits of the scheme will include the creation of new jobs, further investment into the tourism and leisure sectors, and increased retail footfall.
He added: “Our vision is to create an accessible, welcoming and vibrant city centre destination for visitors and the local community to enjoy and for Coney Street Riverside to act as a positive catalyst for city-wide inward investment.”
The public engagement exhibition takes place until October 3 at 29-31 Coney Street, home of the Street Life project run by the University of York. Feedback from the exhibition will be used to further shape Helmsley’s vision, with a planning application expected to be submitted to City of York Council in the autumn.
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