Councillors recommended to approve 'final piece' of Coney Street plan

A decision is expected from a City of York Council planning committee meeting on the Helmsley Group’s proposals to partially demolish 5, Coney Street to form a walkway to the riverside, create new floorspace at 3,5 and 7 Coney Street – which are Grade II listed buildings - for shops, restaurants with terraces to the rear, and seven residential apartments via the creation of additional storeys.

JD Sports occupies number 3 Coney Street, Lush Cosmetics recently vacated number 5 and moved further along Coney Street, and number 7 is occupied by fashion retailer Mango.

The walkway would run between 3 and 7, Coney Street and run south along the riverside to the City Screen cinema.

Numbers 3-7 Coney Street as they appear today (Image: Kevin Glenton) Councillors have been recommended to approve both the full application and the listed building consent which were received by the council on February 28 last year.

Earlier this month, The Press reported on the council’s approval for a new street and riverfront area and walkway, a new six-storey building for businesses and student accommodation on Coney Street.

If approved, Helmsley Group said work on 3-7, Coney Street would expect to start as early as summer 2025.

The application includes the forming of a walkway from Coney Street to the riverside (Image: Kevin Glenton) Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said: “A recommendation for approval brings us a step closer to securing the final piece of our much anticipated Coney Street Riverside masterplan.

“Our plans would realise a 50-year ambition to reconnect Coney Street with its riverfront and honour the area’s rich heritage while sensitively taking the necessary strides required to secure its long-term future.

“As well as creating a welcoming, family friendly offer through the realisation of these plans, we’re also seeking to introduce much-needed housing within the city centre.”

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The buildings in the latest Helmsley Group application are closer to historic York structures such as the Guildhall and Mansion House.

The impact of the change of use to include residential flats, the accessibility of the ‘snickleway’ at 5 Coney Street, plus the listed buildings status of 3-7, Coney Street and the archaeological importance of the area were among concerns raised from internal and externally consulted groups in the planning application.

The buildings in the latest application are closer to Mansion House and The Guildhall (Image: Kevin Glenton) The application was 'called in' for a planning committee decision by Guildhall ward councillor Rachel Melly.

Cllr Melly said: “This complex proposal for the redevelopment of part of Coney Street could have impacts on accessibility and York’s heritage.

“I’ve asked for the application to be considered in a public forum by the planning committee because of the public interest in the future of our city’s street scene.”

Concluding statements within the planning committee documents in the full application and listed building consent say that ‘in assessing the proposal officers have considered the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of the listed buildings and putting them to a viable use consistent with their conservation and the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality.’

City of York Council Planning Committee B meet at 4.30pm today (November 28).