& the name of the new stadium will be….

The LNER Community Stadium.

LNER through the Agreement will also have the naming rights to the main East Stand of the Stadium and it is proposed this will be named the – LNER Azuma Stand.

The deal is thought to be worth around £50,000 although the York Council is refusing to confirm this.

In 2012 property and valuation advisors Edward Symmons valued the naming rights between £40k – £60k per annum. This valuation was consistent with the estimate made in the original business case of between £50k to £70k per annum.

Those of a nervous disposition will be aware that the East Coast mainline operator has changed a lot over the last couple of decades. (LNER, Virgin, GNER etc etc) . No doubt any signage at the stadium will be digital to allow for regular updates!

York Local Plan Inquiry goes ahead

Following notification of the General Election to be held on 12 December 2019 the Planning Inspectorate has issued guidance stating that Local Plan examinations should proceed as planned. 

There had been speculation that the examination would be suspended until after 12th December.

The hearings into the City of York Local Plan will therefore commence at 10.00 am on Tuesday 10 December 2019, as previously notified

Phase 1 of hearings of the City of York Local Plan will commence at 10.00am on Tuesday 10 December 2019 in the Gimcrack Room at York Racecourse at Knavesmire Road, York YO23 1EX.

Further details can be found via this link.

Balfour Street tree felled

The tree that was damaging railings and the footpath on Balfour Street has finally been felled. The Council have also removed accumulated leaf fall. The path is now much safer.

The opened up area to the rear has revealed locations where at least two additional trees could be planted.

The work followed complaints to executive Councillors. The self seeded tree had been reported 2 years ago. It caused considerable damage to the railings and footpath in the interim. It is likely to be some time before the tree stump rots away and allows permanent remedial work to be undertaken on the railings and footpath.

Rebid bid by BID

The York Council will today decide whether to support the continuation of he York Business Improvement District (BID)

The BID has operated in the York City Centre for the last 4 years. It is due to come to an end in 20121 unless businesses operating in the City centre choose to renew its mandate.

A Council report says that £4 million will have been invested by the BID over the 5 year life of its contract.

Decisions on the allocation of this investment are taken by the established business-led BID Board and focus on areas such as improving the cleanliness of the City Centre, tackling anti-social behaviour and providing business and procurement support for City Centre businesses.

Many independent observers rate the BID as a success but recognise that it has to be paid for through a supplementary business rates levy whihc may not be popular with everyone.

Achievements listed by the BID include: 

  • The BID funded Street Rangers have engaged with businesses over 15,300 times, recovered £24,000 of stolen stock, provided first aid on 206 occasions and deterred 1,544 cases of anti-social behaviour
  • Christmas lights switch on and Winter lights – the BID have dressed the City and Bar Wall entrances in over 16 kilometres of lights, and such is the success of the switch on that plans are underway to move the event to a larger area to accommodate the growing crowds expected to attend in 2019
  • In 2018/19, the BID deep cleaned over 41,500 m2 of the City Centre and responded to 173 call outs from businesses. The team is also pivotal in removing used syringes and large quantities of biowaste from the streets and surrounding areas.

A decision to hold a renewal ballot is expected to be taken later today

York Industrial Strategy

A report being considered today says that “York’s compact size, competing demand for site/land uses and the historic nature of the city’s traditional core means that green- and brownfield opportunities for commercial development are limited.

Nevertheless, major regeneration opportunities such as York Central and The Guildhall, as well as the Hudson Quarter development, offer sizeable growth opportunities for York’s economy”.

The comment is in response to what the government describes as “local industrial strategy”.

The report goes on to identify the strengths of he York economy

York’s economy is diverse and rapidly growing with the city witnessing the fastest productivity growth of any area in the region since 2012. The York Council has identified five key growth sectors based on existing strengths and assets. These are:

  • Rail engineering and technology;
  • Digital and ICT;
  • Financial and professional services;
  • University-led innovation and training; and,
  • Bio-tech (particularly at start-up phase).

“it is important that these sector strengths are supported to prosper, as well as the city’s lower-paid, high volume industries (retail, hospitality, tourism and health and social care)”

The York and North Yorkshire strategy is summarised as inclusive growth, the use of digital technology to transform York and North Yorkshire into a ‘Smart region’.

The Leeds City Region – which includes York – priorities are:

Supporting businesses to meet the challenges of the future economy and create good quality jobs, to support progression and promote inclusivity;

  • Accelerating economic growth across the City Region through technology and innovation;
  • Building on the successes of our globally important healthcare sector as a source of good jobs and growth;
  • Making sure our environment promotes healthy, active lifestyles and is fit for future generations to enjoy; and,
  • Skilled people, in good jobs, with access to training to help build and sustain their careers

The “strategy” is due to be discussed at a meeting being held in York later today