Plans to regenerate the South Walmgate area include 36 new council homes, new landscaping and wider improvements for the city centre community.
A Neighbourhood Improvement Plan (NIP) has been taking shape following a series of consultations involving local residents, and is being presented to Executive for approval in early September.
Work to enhance the local high street for shoppers and businesses, and to deliver wider estate regeneration is also being proposed as part of the Councilโs NIP, and will run alongside creating new Council homes on the former Willow House care home site.
The area regeneration is being funded by nearly ยฃ1 million: ยฃ500,000 from the councilโs Local Transport Grant; ยฃ250,000 from City of York Councilโs Council Housing budget; and ยฃ217,000 from the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, part of Mayor David Skaithโs Mayoral Challenge Fund through York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
These improvements are informed by resident engagement. They include proposals to improve security in the adjacent estate, develop a communally-managed garden scheme, make junctions more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, improve the shopping parade, and set up a heritage trail in this historic area.
Alongside those plans, residents have been helping shape the 36 new social rent and shared ownership homes planned for the Willow House site. They form the next stage of the Councilโs ambitious Housing Delivery Programme, which includes Ordnance Lane and other Council-owned sites across the city.
The Council has recently appointed a new contractor to demolish the former Willow House care home ahead of building work. As a member of the considerate contractorโs scheme, they will inform residents of progress and keep disruption to a minimum.
Work is also underway to secure ownership of a small number of brick stores and garages required to deliver the Willow House redevelopment safely and efficiently. Executive will be asked to approve the preparatory work needed to support the potential use of compulsory purchase powers, should they be required. Any decision to make a Compulsory Purchase Order would be considered separately by the Executive later.
Cllr Dave Merrett, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said:
The Masterplanโs projects and ambitions prioritise community involvement and multi-agency collaboration alongside investment in local spaces and services.
โThe 36 new genuinely affordable homes, for social rent and shared ownership, will be set in an attractive position offering sustainable living in a vibrant city centre location.
Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport, said:
We are developing options to improve accessibility and make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier in the Walmgate area. These include considering improved level access to the shopping parade, additional Blue Badge parking, and improvements to the cycle route linking Fishergate with Navigation Road.
โThe proposals will be developed further through stakeholder and public engagement.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Culture, said:
Weโve sourced significant funding for these projects to bring them together into a coherent single plan. Theyโve been developed to improve the economic success of Walmgateโs local high street, set in a historically rich area close to the internationally important city walls and Walmgate Barbican.
Find out more about the Executive on 9 September at 4:30pm and the Combined Executive Committee Meeting on 8 September at 10am.
