Planning approval marks a major milestone for York Central
by Anna Lingard
Marketing Manager
The approval enables the delivery of more than 1,000 new homes, including 20% affordable housing, alongside commercial and leisure spaces, a hotel, extensive parkland and public realm, and a new western entrance to York railway station.
Whittam Cox Architects has worked with McLaren Regeneration and Arlington Real Estate to develop the proposals for Cinder Yards, Plots F3–F4 within the wider York Central masterplan. Bringing our experience in Build to Rent and large-scale residential design, our team has helped shape a distinctive new neighbourhood that responds to York’s historic character while looking confidently towards its future.
The proposals build on the work of the wider design team and the masterplan established by Allies and Morrison. Working collaboratively with McLaren Regeneration, Arlington Real Estate and project partners, we have focused on creating a strong architectural identity, a considered resident experience and a welcoming connection with the surrounding public realm.
Cinder Yards will deliver 508 Build to Rent homes, alongside resident amenity space and ground-floor retail and leisure uses. Positioned between Cinder Street and Hudson Boulevard, the scheme will help create an active, well-connected part of the emerging city quarter, supporting York Central’s wider ambition for an inclusive and sustainable place in which people can live, work and spend time.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to delivering what will be a truly transformational addition not only to the city of York but also the wider regional economy. From the outset, our vision has been to deliver a place that is both worthy of its historical location but also forward looking, providing the space the city and its people need to continue to thrive long into the future.”
Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration
"York Central is a generational landmark scheme for the city and for regeneration in the region. Building on the wider master plan, our piece of the puzzle, Cinder Yards seeks to connect and create place with identity and character which is rooted in York. We’re proud to have worked alongside McLaren Regeneration, Arlington Real Estate and the wider team to shape Cinder Yards, bringing forward homes and spaces that contribute positively to the emerging neighbourhood."
Executive Director
“York Central is a fantastic opportunity to transform derelict brownfield land into thousands of new homes, jobs, and green spaces, giving more people the chance to live and work in this great city. “By unlocking one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country, we’re turning years of talk into action to drive growth in every region, raise living standards and build the homes communities desperately need.”
Housing Secretary
York Central is being brought forward by joint venture development partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, on behalf of landowners Homes England and Network Rail, in close collaboration with the City of York Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Railway Museum.
Construction is expected to begin next year, with the first buildings available for occupation from early 2029 and the first phase expected to complete during 2030.