Car park and apartment plans recommended for approval

Applications for a new multi-storey car park and a mixed-use apartment block forming part of a key York regeneration project look set to get the green light later today.Two sets of plans covering the creation of a car park at St George’s Field and construction of a new mixed-use development on the existing Castle Mills car park site will be considered by City of York Council’s Planning committee on 19 November 2020.The schemes for part of the York Castle Gateway masterplan. A key objective of the regeneration project is the relocation of surface car parking away from the Eye of York. This necessitates the closure of the Castle Car Park and the re-provision at St George’s Field.The commercial revenue generated by the development of the Castle Mills site would be used to fund the construction of the St George’s Field multi-storey car park.The proposed multi-storey car park would provide 372 car parking spaces over five levels, with the fifth level of parking situated on the roof. It would also include 26 disabled parking bays and 56 electric vehicle charging points.The plans for the Castle Mills site include a part seven-, part eight-storey building to the north, comprising two blocks (Blocks A and B), with a five-storey building (Block C) to the south. New landscaped public realm would be created between the buildings to connect to the proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge providing a link to the west bank of the Foss.The proposed buildings would comprise 106 apartments, with two studios, 36 one-bed and 68 two-bed apartments, of which 20 of the units in Block C are proposed as affordable apartments. Flexible commercial space would be provided on the round floor.Both applications are recommended for approval at the meeting, with an officer’s report highlighting benefits including the provision of new housing, creation of new public realm and connectivity improvements.