YORK INVESTORS WIN CONTRACT FOR NEW CITY OF YORK COUNCIL HQ

The contract to deliver new headquarters for City of York Council has been awarded to York Investors LLP – a team comprising York-based developers S Harrison and national property company Buccleuch Property.

York Investors’ scheme will bring back to life York’s historic original railway station in a design which combines the Grade II* listed 1840s structure with a new open-plan area to create a modern sustainable BREEAM “excellent” rated building.

York Investors beat off strong competition from 11 bidders, winning finally in a head-to-head against Aviva.

The new 13,600 sq.m complex will provide the main customer centre for the council’s services and house council staff currently spread across sixteen buildings around the city. It may also provide accommodation for some of the council’s partner organisations. City of York Council anticipates that the move will result in significant operating cost-savings.

Scheduled for completion in 2012, the new headquarters will provide a model of sustainable re-development. As well as returning the historic GT Andrews-designed railway station to civic use, the new complex will achieve a Band A energy performance rating assessment using renewable low carbon fuels.

Outside the building, a new courtyard arrival area will create a green oasis in the city.

York Investors has brought together a range of primarily Yorkshire-based expertise to win and deliver the scheme. Alongside S Harrison Developments – who moved from Malton to the former Terry’s site in the city in 2007 – and Buccleuch Property, award-winning York architects Crease Strickland Parkins are leading the design element. Ward Cole provides engineering input with Leeds-based Aecom inputting on sustainability and York-based O’Neill Associates providing planning advice. Building services is from York-based Martin Design Associates and QS from Leeds firm Rex Procter & Partners.

Says Buccleuch Property development director Sandy Smith: “This is a landmark development of national significance. It shows how old and new can combine to provide functional sustainability and still deliver civic style. Our plans respect York’s historic and railway heritage but offer modern, functional, sustainable accommodation which will deliver the operational cost-savings the council is seeking.”

Says Martyn Harrison, chairman of S Harrison Group: “This scheme will provide a major boost for York. We have created a first-class design and built around us a first-class delivery team. Our commitment is to use York skills to provide an HQ of which the whole city can be proud.”

The council has expressed its delight with the proposal which has also won enthusiastic support from English Heritage, York Civic Trust and others. English Heritage has identified that the scheme could become an exemplar for the re-use of a major historic building.

York Investors will now show its scheme to the public before submitting a planning application later in the Spring. It is hoped that work will start on site before the end of the year and will be completed by the end of 2012.