York Central appoints design team
Allies and Morrison has been selected as the masterplan architect for the £2.5bn regeneration project, with Grant Associates set to design the landscaped park and public realm.
Sheppard Robson, Cartwright Pickard, Corstorphine & Wright, Haworth Tompkins, 3D Reid, and re-form complete the wider team of architects on the scheme.
Allies and Morrison developed the original York Central masterplan, making the firm’s appointment a neat progression for the project, and has also worked on the regeneration of London’s Kings Cross, BBC Media Village, and the Queen Elizabeth Olymypic Park.
While Allies and Morrison will focus on the overall vision and design guide for the 110-acre site and an Innovation Hub, Sheppard Robson will work on the Government Property Agency’s 195,000 sq ft hub, which will house up to 2,600 civil servants, and 3D Reid will work on the Western Station entrance and the adjoining hotel.
Grant Associates, which is known for the 134-acre Bay South in Singapore, will lead on landscape design including the park, public realm, and green spaces, as well as the coal drops area of the site, while re-form will focus on the Museum Square public realm within the first phase of delivery.
Meanwhile, Cartwright Pickard will work on the residential part of the project, alongside Corstorphine & Wright which will work on the BTR aspect, and Haworth Tompkins on the affordable housing.
York Central is being brought forward by joint venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, and majority landowners Homes England and Network Rail, in collaboration with key stakeholders the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum.
Tom Gilman, managing director of McLaren Regeneration, said: “Following a comprehensive competitive process that included both local and international firms, we have carefully selected some of the world’s leading architects and design specialists to work with us and bring our ambitious vision for York Central to life.
“Key to our decision making was ensuring they all had a proven track record in delivering and working on large scale regeneration schemes, as well as demonstrable experience, knowledge and understanding of York and the surrounding area.
“Now, we are excited to get to work on our plans, with an outstanding architectural team, our partners and the local community, to deliver what will be a vibrant, highly sustainable place, with expansive green space, and public realm, new homes and a major new employment hub for northern England.”
Jason Syrett, partner of Allies and Morrison, said: “This is such a remarkable brownfield site embedded in the fabric of York and an integral part of its railway industrial heritage.
“That distinctiveness or ‘Yorkness’ is integral to our shared vision.”
