Castle Gateway public realm at Castle Car Park Castlegate, York

The site

The 2.28-hectare site includes the car park, Clifford’s Tower, historic buildings, the Eye of York and land beside the River Foss.

“The application site consists of the 2.28 ha of land near the confluence of the River Ouse and the River Foss, the latter forming the eastern boundary to the site, which contains the Castle Carpark, Clifford’s Tower, the Crown Court, the Castle Museum and the oval patch of grass known locally as the ‘Eye of York.’ The western and northern boundaries of the site are formed by Tower Street.”

“The application site is a sensitive and important location within which lies York Castle (Scheduled Monument and Grade I listed), the Castle Museum (formerly the Debtors’ and Female Prisons, both Grade I Listed) and the Crown Court (Grade I Listed). The site is within the Central Historic Core Conservation Area and the Area of Archaeological Importance.”

Officer report

Earlier permission and changes

An earlier 2020 permission covered works to Clifford’s Tower, while the current scheme was reduced and revised after later Executive decisions.

“The scope of the project at Castle Gateway has changed significantly to align with the Executive decisions in November 2023. This means that within this planning application there has been the submission of revised plans. In summary, the Executive decision was to create an overall simpler scheme which reduces overall costs.”

“20/00217/FUL – APPROVED 05.06.2020 External works including improvements to handrails for existing access stair up the motte, introduction of resting places to the sides of the stair, internal works within the Tower to include the installation of new staircase, tower floor, walkways, balustrade and roof deck in addition to miscellaneous conservation works.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the scheme would regenerate Castle Gateway, enhance heritage settings, improve public space and movement, and satisfy relevant planning requirements.

“In terms of the lighting scheme, the less than substantial harm arises from a combination of the lighting infrastructure itself (e.g. bollards and posts) and the introduction of illumination in the setting of heritage assets which currently have a low level of illumination. Public benefit is identified in creating a welcoming, safe and attractive high-quality night time environment as a result of the lighting.”

“The proposed scheme is focused on delivering regeneration of the Castle Gateway area of the city centre, an area of high cultural and heritage value that suffers from a poor quality setting. The regeneration will radically enhance the setting of Clifford’s Tower and other designated heritage assets in the area while creating a high-quality area of public realm and improving the area for pedestrians.”

Officer report

What residents said

Representations supported the green space and retained blue badge parking but raised concerns about play space, trees, cycling, maintenance, parking and facilities.

“- 2EV chargers is insufficient and cycle parking is insufficient - No provision of retail units such as drinks, food and ice cream outlets. - Provision of around 45 trees seems low for such a large area - The children’s play area is clearly unrealistic as shown with no fencing, little adult seating and few attractions - Asked questions about locations of public toilets and drinking water facilities as well as asking if dogs are to be allowed off leads.”

“- More cycle parking required including space for adapted cycles. - Lots of high maintenance grass cutting areas and very little bicycle parking or wildflowers - This area is ripe for developing an underground secure Bicycle Park, somewhere where people can get to on their bikes and know that they’ll be safe in the underground Bicycle Parking Garage. - Without this new space being promoted and managed, it will soon decline.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Speakers included objectors and supporters from community and disability groups, the applicant’s agent, and council officers who answered members’ questions.

The decision

The application was approved with an amendment requiring details of disabled parking arrangements during construction and informal accessible arrangements to be delegated for approval.

“Following debate Cllr Merrett proposed the officer recommendation to approve the application subject to an amendment to Condition 8 with the details of the disabled car parking arrangements during the construction phase and informal accessible being delegated to the Head of Planning and Development Services. This was seconded by Cllr Baxter. Following a vote with six voting in favour, two against and two abstentions, it was;”

“Resolved: That the application be approved subject to an amendment to Condition 8 with the details of the disabled car parking arrangements during the construction phase and informal accessible being delegated to the Head of Planning and Development Services…”

Minutes