Three Options For The Chocolate Works
Three possible new ways of redeveloping the former Terry’s chocolate factory in York have been drawn up.
Developers Grantside, working with council officers, have come up with three “core options” as they try to create a viable master plan that satisfies the local community and stakeholders.
The company stressed today that local residents will be fully consulted before any fresh planning application is submitted.
Grantside’s original proposals were thrown out by City of York councillors last summer, despite officers recommending approval.
All three new options, exclusively revealed today by The Press, drop the original proposal to convert the old Terry’s offices into a luxury hotel, although Grantside insist this idea has not been completely abandoned.
One version involves the construction of a new hotel – probably a luxury one – on the former Terry’s workers car park on the other side of Bishopthorpe Road, with a second hotel – probably a budget type – elsewhere on the site. Grantside says that using the car park in this way would allow for bigger green spaces in the main site.
The other two options involve a single new luxury hotel on the main site, but again the company says that a budget hotel has not been dropped for good.
Other key differences between the schemes include the amount and location of green open spaces and the location of residential and commercial areas. Two options involve keeping residential development at the northern end, closest to the city centre, with the third spreading residential use throughout the site.
Two options involve keeping commercial use to the southern end of the site, closest to countryside and the A64. The third spreads commercial development across the site.
The schemes also provide a series of choices about the strip of land at the junction of Campleshon Road and Bishopthorpe Road, where there is currently a mound and trees which separates the factory site from the local community.
One option is to keep this barrier; a second is to remove part of it, while the third involves their removal, with a street scene integrating the site into the community.
Peter Callaghan, development director with Grantside, said the options, which had been drawn up after community consultation workshops held at the end of November, were not a straight choice.
People could indicate which elements of each option they liked, and the final proposal could include bits of all three.
Mr Callaghan said: “The options consider the land uses within the site, the boundaries of the site, connectivity with the local community and the wider city, relationship to the racecourse, open spaces and important views”.
By Mike Laycock
07/02/09
York press
Developers Grantside, working with council officers, have come up with three “core options” as they try to create a viable master plan that satisfies the local community and stakeholders.
The company stressed today that local residents will be fully consulted before any fresh planning application is submitted.
Grantside’s original proposals were thrown out by City of York councillors last summer, despite officers recommending approval.
All three new options, exclusively revealed today by The Press, drop the original proposal to convert the old Terry’s offices into a luxury hotel, although Grantside insist this idea has not been completely abandoned.
One version involves the construction of a new hotel – probably a luxury one – on the former Terry’s workers car park on the other side of Bishopthorpe Road, with a second hotel – probably a budget type – elsewhere on the site. Grantside says that using the car park in this way would allow for bigger green spaces in the main site.
The other two options involve a single new luxury hotel on the main site, but again the company says that a budget hotel has not been dropped for good.
Other key differences between the schemes include the amount and location of green open spaces and the location of residential and commercial areas. Two options involve keeping residential development at the northern end, closest to the city centre, with the third spreading residential use throughout the site.
Two options involve keeping commercial use to the southern end of the site, closest to countryside and the A64. The third spreads commercial development across the site.
The schemes also provide a series of choices about the strip of land at the junction of Campleshon Road and Bishopthorpe Road, where there is currently a mound and trees which separates the factory site from the local community.
One option is to keep this barrier; a second is to remove part of it, while the third involves their removal, with a street scene integrating the site into the community.
Peter Callaghan, development director with Grantside, said the options, which had been drawn up after community consultation workshops held at the end of November, were not a straight choice.
People could indicate which elements of each option they liked, and the final proposal could include bits of all three.
Mr Callaghan said: “The options consider the land uses within the site, the boundaries of the site, connectivity with the local community and the wider city, relationship to the racecourse, open spaces and important views”.
By Mike Laycock
07/02/09
York press
Date Published: 10/02/2009
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