University plan to build on Union Terrace car park could create 200 new jobs for York

City of York Council is set to sell the Union Terrace coach and car park to York St John University, which plans to expand its existing campus across the road.

Council leader James Alexander has backed the scheme, which he says will commit at least £2 million to the council’s Reinvigorate York agenda to revitalise the city centre and install “pay on exit”

car parking in its car parks. But traders in nearby Gillygate have broadly condemned the move, saying it would deprive them of much-needed passing tourist trade.

Coun Alexander said that instead of using Union Terrace as a drop-off point for coaches, the council would look at multiple sites in the city centre to spread visitors across the city.

He said: “York St John plays an important role in the economic vitality of the city and the expansion will further help this by providing 100 new jobs at the university and providing capacity for 100 knock-on jobs, in addition to the impact of increased student numbers.

“As someone who used to work for York St John, I realise how important it is as an employer to local residents who are finding it very tough at the moment.

“The increased students, staff and visitor numbers should also help the business of traders along Gillygate, who often rely on the associated custom of the university.”

The university plans to expand its current numbers to 8,000 over the next four years, including an extra 1,000 international students.

Although detailed plans for the site are still being finalised, some of the options York St John is looking at include academic space, sport and recreational facilities for students and the public, event and exhibition space and student accommodation which it hopes will help inject an extra £45 million for the city’s economy.

Lib Dem leader Coun Carol Runciman said: “This announcement will be worrying for traders in Gillygate who rely on the passing trade of residents and visitors using Union Terrace car park. The trade from increased students and staff at York St John is likely to be quite different to that from residents and visitors who are in the city to shop.

“The council needs to make sure that the potential impacts of the sale have been fully examined before a decision is taken, including ensuring that the city has the capacity to cope without Union Terrace. City centre traders cannot afford a situation where the availability of parking is vastly reduced. The fact that the sale would contribute £2m towards Coun Alexander’s as-yet-unspecified grand scheme for the city centre should not distract from the need to assess this proposal carefully and ensure that it is not detrimental to some of the businesses that are vital to this city.”

Tory leader Coun Ian Gillies, said he backed the scheme in its essence, but said “the devil is in the detail”.

He said: “I would be interested to see where the coach drop-off points are going to be so that the traders in Gillygate don’t miss out.”

A York St John University spokeswoman said detailed plans had yet to be finalised for the site but the expansion would bring “significant benefits to students and the wider city economy and community”.

She said: “We have carefully scoped the potential impact which will help us to provide new jobs in the region and a significant boost to the economy.

“We have a strong track record in enhancing our environment through high-quality award-winning facilities, on campus and with student accommodation within the city.

“Our intention with this purchase is to build on this reputation by creating one integrated green campus which will improve this important area in the heart of York for students, residents and visitors.”

Details of the full proposals will go to a meeting of the council’s cabinet in July.

Mixed reaction to parking plans

COUNCIL plans to introduce “pay on exit” car parking in York have met with a mixed reaction from tourist bosses and councillors.

There are currently only two coach parks in York. They are St George’s Field, which is a 24-hour car park for cars and coaches and Union Terrace car park, which is also 24-hour and is open until 8.30pm. In addition the council has 12 other city centre car parks.

Lib Dem leader Coun Carol Runciman said the loss of one of the coach parks would also caused concern to traders while exit barrier systems needed to be manned in case of problems or malfunctions and this would mean extra staff.

Coun Runciman said: “Pay on exit car parking is likely to be very expensive to introduce, the equipment is not cheap and extra staff would need to be employed to assist people who have trouble with the barriers.

“Such a large investment would need to have significant benefits for it to be justifiable especially given that people already have the option to pay by phone, should they wish to stay longer than planned in the car park.”

York has just won a national award from the Group Travel Organiser magazine for being The Most Group Friendly Destination in the UK’, ahead of London, Cambridge and Blackpool for coach operators.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said: “Coach tourism brings in £25 million of visitor spend into the York economy, with almost half a million visitors arriving by coach each year.

“If good alternative arrangements are put in place we can see that this new proposal could bring benefits and we would also support the plan for new exit barriers for the city’s car parks. At the same time, however, it is very important to consider the impact of any changes on coach operators bringing vital business to York, making sure that they are well catered for and taking into account the views of the city’s retailers.”