Oakgate Group Ltd would like to know what the local community thinks of plans to redevelop the former Tramways Working Men’s Club (WMC) site on Mill Street, York.
Before a planning application is submitted to City of York Council, we are consulting on proposals to bring new residential development to the site. Plans also include improvements to create a pocket park at the rest gardens next to the site, where legendary highwayman Dick Turpin is thought to be buried.
To have your say, please complete a feedback form here. Alternatively you can contact us in 0800 089 0362 or emily@royalpilgrim.com.
THE SITE
The site is the former Tramways WMC on the corner of Mill Street and George Street, York. Tramways was purpose-built in the 1960s for the club to relocate from another York site. Following a vote from its members, the club closed and sold the site to Oakgate for redevelopment.
As a typical 1960’s Working Man’s Club, the existing building adds little to the streetscape and the neighbouring Grade II Listed St George’s Church.
The application site also covers the adjacent rest gardens, which includes Dick Turpin’s grave, off George Street.
THE PROPOSALS
The proposals have been sensitively designed to take account of the Grade II Listed St George’s Church, the site’s location in a conservation area and the character and heritage of the surrounding streetscape. The height and massing of the building is appropriate for the site and will mark a vast improvement on the existing building.
The proposals include:
35 apartments all with outdoor space and workspace to reflect the changing nature of city living
A mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed homes
Lower ground cycle storage for 24 cycle
Improvements to the adjacent rest gardens to create an ‘urban pocket park’
Solar panels on the roof contributing to the building’s energy requirements
The building will be set back from the boundary with the rest garden to respect the existing mature trees, proposals will retain a tree lined character to George Street.
The ground floor apartments along the Mill Street frontage will have outdoor space with some greening and landscaping along this boundary.
DICK TURPIN & POCKET PARK
Essex-born Dick Turpin was a member of a gang of thieves and became a highwayman when one of his group was killed and the authorities were close to catching him. Under the name John Palmer, he fled to Yorkshire and was finally tried and sentenced to death for stealing horses. The infamous Dick Turpin was executed in April 1739 at the gallows in York in front of a large crowd of onlookers and buried in St George’s Church yard on George Street.
A small headstone reads ‘John Palmer otherwise Richard Turpin the notorious highwayman and horse stealer executed at Tyburn April 7th 1739 and buried in St George’s churchyard’ in the rest garden opposite St George’s Church on George Street. Although some believe that his body was moved shortly after his death and that the headstone was added centuries later, the tombstone remains a popular tourist attraction for the city.
The pocket park is a small area of space for public use with some gravestones in the centre.
As part of the planning application it is proposed to make a number of improvements to the pocket park to enhance the experience for residents and visitors.
The proposals include:
Enhanced landscaping with soft wildflower edges beneath trees, planting to enhance colour and long grasses
New seating
New widened public footpath with an attractive bound gravel surface
Provide a potential location for an art installation, referencing Dick Turpin’s grave
We welcome your thoughts on our proposals for the pocket park.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Before a planning application is submitted to City of York Council for the proposals, we would like to know what the local community thinks. To have your say, please complete the feedback form below.
If you have any queries, or know friends or family that cannot get online and would like a paper copy of the information sent in the post, please contact us on 0800 089 0362 or emily@royalpilgrim.com.
NEXT STEPS
We will consider all feedback received and where possible and appropriate make amends to the proposals. We will submit a planning application in the coming weeks. Should planning permission be granted, and there are no delays, we hope to start on site later in the year.
FAQ
There will be 21 one -bed apartments, 12 two-bed apartments and 2 three-bed apartments.
It is anticipated that all the apartments be leasehold for sale. Holiday lets and Airbnb uses will not be permitted.
An allowance will be made for affordable housing in accordance with Policy H10 of CYC Planning requirements, should planning permission be approved.
There is on-street parking as part of the Residents’ Priority Parking Areas (Zone R18 Walmgate). The site is also well served by public transport and within easy reach of the train station.
Yes. The works to the rest gardens will be within the s106 Agreement as part of the planning permission, should permission be granted.
Subject to planning permission and there being no delays in the planning process, we hope to begin construction in the autumn.
We expect the construction to take around 12 months.
Once a contractor is appointed, a construction management plan will be in place to manage any disruption and we will monitor work closely. The contractor will follow the Code of Considerate Practice.
