Plans revised for Castle Gateway project

The first phase of a redevelopment project to upgrade the area around Clifford's Tower in York could begin next year after plans were revised, councillors heard.

The Castle Gateway masterplan covers the Eye of York area where the River Foss meets the River Ouse.

Council city development lead Claire Foale told councillors the £3.5m first phase would see a new public park created, along with around 30 disabled parking spaces - although the rest of the current Castle Car Park would close.

The city council's executive will consider a business case for Phase One in May, according to officials.

The amendments to the project follow consultations held last summer.

At a meeting of the council's Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee, councillors were told an application for the new plans would be lodged in March ahead of May's executive meeting.

Plans to build a multi-storey car park at St George's Field would no longer go ahead under the plans, although the council said a car park would remain on the site.

A council report said there was a focus on reducing the costs of delivering and managing the scheme.

A paved area initially planned to host events is no longer included in the latest version of the proposals, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The report said the council was continuing to explore uses for the vacant Castle Mills site while long-term plans remained to build affordable homes.

Councillors heard £4.6m was still earmarked for a footbridge at the back of the Castle Museum over the River Foss to Castle Mills and for Tower Street bus stop improvements.

They also heard talks were ongoing with organisations with an interest in the site on how the site would be maintained.

A report said rising construction costs, interest rates and uncertainty in the housing market had all affected the scheme since the business case was approved in 2020.

Two bids for Levelling Up funding to help cover the initial £13m costs of the project were unsuccessful.

Foale said officials were working on securing further funding for the Castle Gateway masterplan.

She added the cost of the project as approved in 2020 would be closer to £16m and the situation with funding meant it had been broken up into phases.

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