Council forced to publish transport plan for York North West

The Council has finally agreed to publish its Transport Masterplan covering the York North West development. Residents have until January to c comment on the implications of the 56 page (6 Mb) document which is available from the Council (or by Email from us in PDF format)

Access points by type of travel click image to enlarge


Pedestrian routes


Proposed parking provision


The plan rest heavily on the success of the new 10 minute Park and Ride service which will link a new 1250 space car park at Poppleton with the City centre. Planners say, “developments will ensure the provision of high quality, frequent public transport services from each development site that integrate with the current local bus network. Developments will also link the two sites by a direct local bus service”. Bus links to other parts of York would also be at 10 minute frequencies

“Park and rail” is effectively ruled out for the foreseeable future and with it hopes of a rail link from the British Sugar site to the City centre and beyond (the tram/train option) The report says, “rail is unlikely to provide a significant number of local journeys in the short-term, although development of light rail, including stops at the British Sugar / Manor School site (reserved site exists at the White Rose (York)Business Park) and within the York Central development, remains as a long-term aspiration for the corridor”.

Parking provision will be heavily constrained with less than 1 space per dwelling proposed. However “car club” use will be encouraged and provision for electric vehicles is suggested. Planners say, “ York Central should be a ‘terminus’ for private motorised traffic, which should not have through movement to the city centre”.

The proposed options’ for accessing the York Central site are as previously publicised (see earlier story on this web site) However the British Sugar / Manor School primary traffic access routes will include Millfield Lane (limited) and a direct access onto the A59 at either the former Manor School site or the former Civil Service Sports Ground.

The report goes on to say that there needs to be a major transfer of journeys from car to public transport and cycling. Employees will be encouraged to live within walking distance of their places of work (with incentives to do so)

Overall around £60 million of capital works are identified in the report with most of the investment needed on the Outer Ring Road. The figures do not include dualling or grade separation at junctions.

Significantly the cost does not include the necessary improvements to bus services, cycle routes or other junction within the City. Consultants talk of using the new “Community Infrastructure Levy” to pay for the improvements but warn that any such use must not make a development unviable.

And that is the problem. York central at least will be a highly expensive site to develop. Unless and until a business case – including all transport infrastructure costs – can be put together then the project will remain a dream.

York shops doing well

In a recent survey, shop vacancies in York are down 1.2% over the last 6 months.

Shop vacancies in Yorkshire and Humber region ‘large town centres’ are significantly higher, with average vacancy rates of 17%.
• Dewsbury 27.4% unoccupied
• Bradford 24.6%
• Doncaster 23.7% &
• Hull at 21%.