Events

We’re lauching a new phase of the My York Central conversation in July 2020. This includes setting agendas for events. Find out more here. We’ll be adding events as they develop – if you’ve got ideas for an event then let us know.

ACCESS: If you have any additional requirements that will help you take part in any of our events, please email mycastlegateway@gmail.com or phone Helen on 07855 790347.

Archive of events:

Meet the York Central Partners and Professionals
Wednesday 14th March, 7:30-9:00pm
National Railway Museum (West Enterance directly off Leeman Road not the Main Enterance)
All very welcome. Book your free place here.
As part of the launch of My York Central, we’ve set up an event where you can come along and meet the York Central Partnership. We’ll have speakers invovled in shaping York Central from City of York Council, Network Rail, Homes England and the National Railway Museum. There will also be contributions from key professionals who are involved in the development of York Central: Arup, Allies and Morrison and Aberfield (Communications). There will then be time for Q&As from the floor.

#CitizenMedia #York: How can we create a positive democratic culture online?
Thursday, 15th March, 7.30-9.30
Friargate Meeting House

Throughout the Castle Gateway process, we’ve used social media to seek open conversations. Sometimes this has worked well and great ideas and thought-provoking stories have emerged. At other times we’ve not quite known how to respond, or how turn to cynicism, frustration and anger into to constructive discussion. We’ve also met some people who have said they simply don’t engage in debates about York online for fear of personal attacks and sniping. The danger is we all retreat into our own silos of people who think like we do and the sense of a shared public sphere where ideas are shared, debated and exposed to challenge is lost.

We invite you to join us to explore whether there is another way of having debates about York through Facebook, twitter and in the comments on the York Press. How might social media become a space for us as citizens to engaged in debate about our city? How can we shift the emphasis in local debate from what is wrong and what is hated towards people being able to positively contribute what they want to see? How can social media discussion support democratic culture in York and feed into local decision-making?

The objectives of our first workshop are to:

” Explore techniques for engaging well on social media
” Create a community of people prepared to go out there and try some new techniques and then feedback on how it goes, so we can all learn from the experience

Places are limited to 12. To book a place email Helen on h.graham@leeds.ac.uk
Organised by My Future York and Coaching York

My York Central PechaKucha Night
In collaboration with the Arts Barge… visions for the future of York Central from many different perspectives.
Friday 16th March, 8pm
Cycle Heavan Cafe, Hospital Fields
Line up to be annouced soon! All welcome!

Green Space and York Central: Look At Your City walk
Monday 19th March
4:30pm at the West Bank Park gates on Acomb Road
5.30 at Holgate Community Garden
By 7pm at Leeman Rose Pub for reflections, discussions and, well, a drink
Book your free place
Proposals for York Central include the principle of plenty of open space – a “Great Park” maybe – but what sort of open spaces work best, are most loved and adopted by surrounding communities, and most used by those who live and work nearby? How can we learn lessons from what’s already there which can help shape what gets created in York Central?

York Central: Streets Reimagined Walks
21st March, 1-4pm
The Winning Post, Bishopthorpe Raod
Book your free place
Join Finlay McNab from Streets Reimagined to explore some of York’s most and least successful streets. We will work with Finlay – drawing on his experience of developing thriving streets in other cities – to analyze and understand what make streets work and draw out what this might mean for York Central.

York Central: Liveable Streets with Streets Reimagined
21st March, 7-9pm, National Railway Museum (West Enterance directly off Leeman Road not the Main Enterance)
Book your free place
How might streets in York Central be designed around people, sociability and play? Drawing on extensive experience of developing living and livable streets Finlay McNab from Streets Reimagined will help us build on an analysis of streets we know well in York – their strengths and weaknesses – and help us all imagine the streets of York Central.

Housing Histories, Housing Futures: What can we learn from looking back at York’s so called ‘slum clearances’?
Saturday 24 March, 1.30pm-3pm
York Explore Libraries and Archives (main library on Museum Street)
Book your place
At key points throughout the 20th century, the local authority in York made decisions to knock down whole areas of housing. This was sometimes referred to as ‘slum clearing’ – a term that has been widely contested. We’ll explore these moments between the wars and post-second world war. We’ll focus on specific pieces of archival evidence to explore the governmental motivations (from minutes to health inspections) but we’ll also seek the traces within the archive of the personal experience of being moved from the place you call home (from letters to the council seeking information to activism against the clearances in the late-20th century). What can these attempts to improve people’s housing conditions tell us about the role of government and communities in housing in York today? What principles – about homes and the role of government in housing – can we draw out to take into the York Central discussions?

The Secret Life of York’s Public Spaces
24th March, 6.30-8.30pm
Cycle Heaven, Hospital Fields
Book your free place
How can we learn from the spaces we know well to develop brilliant public space in York Central and Castle Gateway?

We often don’t really notice why a public space works, we just know if we like being there. Good public space has to somehow balance being welcoming when you want to linger, with being easy to navigate when you’re on the move. How can we achieve this with new urban public spaces in Castle Gateway and York Central?

The Life-Sized City: MEDELLIN
Sunday 25th March 1pm – 2pm (and join us for our ‘Pulling Together the Conversations’ workshop, 2-4pm)
Screening in York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum
All very welcome. No booking neccesary.
York Central represents a big change for York – but we’re not alone; other cities are changing too and they can bring to us ideas on how we shape our new piece of city around the people who will live, work and play there.
The Life-Sized City is a ground-breaking documentary series that explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern city, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world. Each episode focuses on one city and on what makes it livable for its residents.

Pulling Together the Week’s Conversations:
Turning the Post-Its (and everything else contributed) into a meaningful brief.
Sunday 25th March, 2-4pm
York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum.
All very welcome. No booking neccesary. There will be cake….
During the Festival of York Central every week there will be 10s maybe even 100s or 1000s of conversations about York Central going on and people will be contributing in many different ways. Through events, in the York Central exhibition and through social media. At the end of each week, we’ll gather all the contributions together and open to some collective analysis. What are the main themes? Where are the unresolved tensions? What else do we need to know? Who else do we need to pull into the conversation? We’ll produce a summary board that can be displayed in the gallery as the conversation moves on to the next theme.

What is your York?
26th March, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm
Drop in, York Central Exhibition
National Railway Museum
What are the most important connections for you between places? Join curator and facilitator Jade French for this family and teenager-friendly drop in workshop where we will be making an ever growing 3D map recreating the sights and networks of York.

York Central: The National Railway Museum’s vision for the future
Wednesday 28th March
6.00-6.30pm
Book your place
Join the National Railway Museum’s Tom Devine to explore the vision for the museum’s future in the context of York Central: from a brand new square, new galleries and interactive lab for young people to explore engineering to a beautiful green space… possibly with a steam training running through it!

Forever Affordable – Community-Led Housing
Wednesday 28th March 7:00pm – 9:00pm
York Central Exhibition at the National Railway Museum
Book your free place
Two concerns that many people have voiced about homes on York Central are “how many will be affordable?” and “will they *stay* affordable?”. Initiatives in community-led housing in York and Leeds have demonstrated that – with support – people can be part of the solution to their own housing needs. This event brings personal experience from current projects, a chance to talk with members of a co-housing group, and information on government support for community-led housing. Speakers will include James Newton from Yorspace, who will describe the project’s progress towards building new homes in York, and Jimm Reed from CoHo, who has been central in community-led housing in Leeds for many years, and who was project manager for the successful LILAC cohousing scheme.

Quality in Housing – the Rowntree legacy at Derwenthorpe
Thursday 29th March 5:45pm – 8:00pm
Derwenthorpe – meet in visitor’s car park (access from Osbaldwick Village)
Book your free place
Housing quality is a major issue in the UK today with press coverage of poorly-built developments. How do we ensure new homes built on York Central are of high quality, and indeed what does “high quality” look like? From New Earswick through to Derwenthorpe, the Rowntree name has been associated with innovation in housing and attempts to ensure good homes and to drive forward standards. This will be a guided tour of the Derwenthorpe housing development followed by a discussion of the lessons which can be learned (in a local pub), and will be a chance to talk with residents about their experience of living there. Many thanks to Derwenthorpe Residents’ Association for their help with this.

Understanding housing density with Dr Roger Pierce
2:00pm – 4:30pm Saturday 31st March
Meet at Navigation Rd / Walmgate junction, walk to The Royal Oak Goodramgate (by the scenic route)
Book your free place
Many of the #MYCQuestions to date have been about issues of housing height and density. Current proposals include between 1700 and 2500 new homes on York Central, but what will that actually look and feel like? Given the proportion of land which will be available when commercial development, infrastructure, open space and all other uses are accommodated, what sort of density will be required and what will it be like to be there? Where can we look in York for examples which might give a comparison? Where will we look to in order to say “Oh, it’ll be like….”

We’ll be led by Dr Roger Pierce, former architect, town planner, academic and city councillor, who advises York Civic Trust’s Planning Committee. We will take a walk through a variety of housing areas on our way to one of York’s historic pubs, where we will discuss what we have seen, look at how different densities could be accommodated on the York Central site, and work together to identify issues which we feel should be explored and addressed as the masterplanning process moves forward.

The Life-Sized City: PARIS
Monday 2nd April
1pm – 2pm (and join us for our ‘Pulling Together the Conversations’ workshop, 2-4pm)
Screening in York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum
All very welcome. No booking neccesary.
York Central represents a big change for York – but we’re not alone; other cities are changing too and they can bring to us ideas on how we shape our new piece of city around the people who will live, work and play there. The Life-Sized City is a ground-breaking documentary series that explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern city, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world. Each episode focuses on one city and on what makes it livable for its residents.

Feels like Home
2nd April, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm Homes
Drop in, York Central Exhibition
National Railway Museum
What does ‘home’ feel like to you? What makes York feel like your home? Join curator and facilitator Jade French for this family and teenager-friendly drop in workshop where you can make your own 3D house a part of an installation that thinks about what it feels like, and should feel like, to live in York.

HOME Pulling Together the Week’s Conversations:
(Turning the Post-Its (and everything else contributed) into a meaningful brief.
Monday 2nd April, 2-4pm
York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum.
All very welcome. There will be cake….
During the Festival of York Central every week there will be 10s maybe even 100s or 1000s of conversations about York Central going on and people will be contributing in many different ways. Through events, in the York Central exhibition and through social media. At the end of each week, we’ll gather all the contributions together and open to some collective analysis. What are the main themes? Where are the unresolved tensions? What else do we need to know? Who else do we need to pull into the conversation? We’ll produce a summary board that can be displayed in the gallery as the conversation moves on to the next theme.

The Life-Sized City: BANGKOK
Wednesday 4th April 2pm – 3pm
Screening in York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum
All very welcome. No booking neccesary.
York Central represents a big change for York – but we’re not alone; other cities are changing too and they can bring to us ideas on how we shape our new piece of city around the people who will live, work and play there. The Life-Sized City is a ground-breaking documentary series that explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern city, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world. Each episode focuses on one city and on what makes it livable for its residents.

York Central: The National Railway Museum’s vision for the future
Wednesday 4th April
6.00-6.30pm
Book your place
Join the National Railway Museum’s Tom Devine to explore the vision for the museum’s future in the context of York Central: from a brand new square, new galleries and interactive lab for young people to explore engineering to a beautiful green space… possibly with a steam training running through it!

Living and Working Creatively on York Central – A workshop to develop ideas and networks
Wednesday 4th April
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book your free place
Current emerging masterplan proposals envisage a clear distinction between living and working on York Central, and much of the background discussion in the city on commercial development revolves around big name employers and A-grade office floorspace. Should we also be looking at how York Central could provide a home for new businesses, retaining talented graduates and working in partnership with our two universities to create a path way from school to entrepreneurial success? As a UNESCO City of Media Arts, should we be providing more infrastructure – built and otherwise – to develop this sector? Can York Central’s heritage as a place of innovation be brought up to date in the 21st century? This will be a workshop event for anyone with an interest in arts, business, culture and creativity, and the way in which they could bring life and economic success to York Central and its surrounding communities.

This event is jointly promoted by York@Large and My Future York.

 

Climax City – Understanding Masterplanning and Urban Growth
Thursday 5th April 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Gather outside Hiscox, Stonebow. We’ll return to National Railway Museum Mallard Suite
Book your free place
David Rudlin of URBED will join us on a guided walk to explore the development of York, followed by a talk and Q&A looking at the way cities grow. This is based on his forthcoming book Climax city: Masterplanning and the Complexity of Urban Growth which explores the ‘natural’ growth of cities and the way in which this is influenced by masterplanning. The notion is that every place has a ‘climax urbanism’, just as it has a ‘climax vegetation’ and that throughout history humans have been trying to influence this climax state in the way that they plan cities. It is something that we need to understand if we are to plan effectively today.

This event is jointly promoted by York Civic Trust and My Future York.

Growing a Garden City – Uxcester and York
Thursday 5th April 7:00pm – 9:00pm
National Railway Museum Mallard Suite
Book your free place
David Rudlin was the author of URBED’s blueprint for sustainable urban growth which won the prestigious Wolfson Economics Prize in 2014. Part economic manifesto and part spatial strategy the proposal showed a radical way in which the fictional city of Uxcester could grow and provide an improved environment for its citizens. He said at the time “We believe that the expansion of existing places like Uxcester to create garden cities has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting our housing needs as well as creating places that are attractive and popular, and that fulfil their economic potential.” At a time when York is considering its future – and the adoption after many decades of a Local Plan – this should be essential reading, but better still the fictitious Uxcester is in fact York, and we have David here to lead us through it and the clear thinking behind it. An illustrated talk and Q&A. There will be refreshments. This event is jointly promoted by York Civic Trust and My Future York.

David Rudlin manages URBED (Urbanism Environment and Design) and is Chair of the Academy of Urbanism. He is a planner by training and is now a Honorary Professor at Manchester University. He was for six years the Chair of Beam in Wakefield and is also chair of the Sheffield and Nottingham Design Panels.

York Central: Site Walk Around
Saturday 7th April, 11am-1pm
Meet Leeman Yard at the corner of Leeman Road where it makes a sharp turn to head under the East Coast Mainline to Garfield Terrace.
Book your place.
We hear York Central is big, but exactly how big? Join Mike Stancliffe from Network Rail to get access to parts of the site usually in accessible, explore aspects of the railway heritage and imagine for yourself what kinds of homes, work and social space York Central might offer.

National Railway Museum: the industrial heritage of York Central and the future vision for the museum
Saturday 7th April, 2-3pm
Meet outside National Railway Museum main entrance
Book your place
The National Railway Museum is not just a museum it is also a site with an amazing heritage. Join Curator Ed Bartholomew to explore the histories of the buildings that make up the wider NRM site and hear about the museums plans for its future as part of the York Central development.

The Life-Sized City: TEL AVIV
Sunday 8th April 1pm – 2pm (and join us for our ‘Pulling Together the Conversations’ workshop, 2-4pm)
Screening in York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum
All very welcome. No booking neccesary.
York Central represents a big change for York – but we’re not alone; other cities are changing too and they can bring to us ideas on how we shape our new piece of city around the people who will live, work and play there. The Life-Sized City is a ground-breaking documentary series that explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern city, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world. Each episode focuses on one city and on what makes it livable for its residents.

WORK Pulling Together the Week’s Conversations:
(Turning the Post-Its (and everything else contributed) into a meaningful brief.
Sunday 8th April, 2-4pm
York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum.
All very welcome. There will be cake….
During the Festival of York Central every week there will be 10s maybe even 100s or 1000s of conversations about York Central going on and people will be contributing in many different ways. Through events, in the York Central exhibition and through social media. At the end of each week, we’ll gather all the contributions together and open to some collective analysis. What are the main themes? Where are the unresolved tensions? What else do we need to know? Who else do we need to pull into the conversation? We’ll produce a summary board that can be displayed in the gallery as the conversation moves on to the next theme.

Getting Out More
Drop in, York Central Exhibition
National Railway Museum
10th April 11am-1pm and 2-4pm Movement
How do you travel and move around York? What makes it easy and what makes it hard? Join curator and facilitator Jade French for this family and teenager-friendly friendly drop in workshop where we will make collages about our experiences of travelling around York to go inside a type of book called a zine.

Beyond Flying Cars – sustainable transport on York Central
Tuesday 10th April, 4pm – 6pm
National Railway Museum Gallery
Book your free ticket here

The current emerging masterplan proposals aim to “encourage sustainable transport” and show networks for the various current modes of transport – walking, cycling, busses and cars. But how will future changes – especially those in public transport – change the way we move around cities and how do cities need to respond in order to benefit from them? Can we look to successful projects elsewhere and can we overcome the cry that “York is different”. How far into the future is it wise to plan when future technologies are so uncertain?

This will be a workshop event led by York Bus Forum Chair Graham Collett and York Environment Forum Chair Phil Bixby, and will feature participation by members of York Environment Forum, bringing with them expertise in many aspects of transport and sustainability. We will aim to produce guidance on sustainable transport which will contribute to the masterplanning process.

York Central: Site Walk Around
Wednesday 11th  April, 5-7pm
Meet Leeman Yard at the corner of Leeman Road where it makes a sharp turn to head under the East Coast Mainline to Garfield Terrace.
Book your place.
We hear York Central is big, but exactly how big? Join Mike Stancliffe from Network Rail to get access to parts of the site usually in accessible, explore aspects of the railway heritage and imagine for yourself what kinds of homes, work and social space York Central might offer.

York Central Transport and Access – Professor Tony May
Wednesday 11th April, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
National Railway Museum Gallery

York resident Dr Tony May specialises in urban transport and has provided advice in the UK, Europe and internationally. He is the transport specialist on York Civic Trust’s Planning Committee. This event will feature an illustrated talk bringing in examples from the Vauban project in Freiburg to examine how sustainable transport can genuinely form the heart of new development, shaping it and making it a pleasant and more affordable place to live and work. We’ll discuss the current emerging masterplan, how closely this reflects the priorities set out in York’s Local Transport Plan, and how it might be further developed to make both the new development and surrounding existing communities more sustainable.

York Central: Archaeology below and above ground
Thursday 12th April 2018, 6-8pm
National Railway Museum (West Enterance directly off Leeman Road not the Main Enterance)

What possibilities for understanding York’s history are offered by York Central? John Oxley, City Archaeologist for the City of York Council explores the ‘Archaeological Possibilities’ offered, what evidence for prehistoric, Roman, medieval, Civil War, and railway deposits might be present under the ground of the railway siding and buildings? Architectural Historian Alison Sinclair, explores the Legacy of Railway Buildings on the site, what were they used for, their importance in the industrial history of the City, and how might they be repurposed in the new development. We will end the evening by considering what significance these histories hold for the development of York Central and feed into a collaborative statement of significance for the site.

National Railway Museum: the industrial heritage of York Central and the future vision for the museum
Friday 13th April 2018, 1-2pm
Meet outside National Railway Museum main entrance

The National Railway Museum is not just a museum it is also a site with an amazing heritage. Join Curator Ed Bartholomew to explore the histories of the buildings that make up the wider NRM site and hear about the museums plans for its future as part of the York Central development.

Connecting York Central and Holgate
6:00pm – 7:00pm Friday 13th April
Wilton Rise railway footbridge

One of the key issues that has emerged from conversations within the Festival of York Central has been connections between the new development and existing surrounding communities. It’s recognised that the existing footbridge across the goods line which connects Cinder Path and Wilton Rise is not ideal, and the masterplanning team are exploring options to improve this connection. These include replacing the existing bridge with something better in the same location, providing an improved connecting route, replacing the bridge in a new location, or doing nothing.

What would work best for you? Come and take a look at the options and walk the routes with us at 6pm on Friday 13th April. We’ll meet at the footbridge on the Wilton Rise side, and there will be an opportunity to discuss the proposals and to feed back into the masterplanning process.

What makes a good cycle route?
A Look At Your City Ride with York Cycle Campaign
Saturday 14th April 2:00pm – 4:30pm approx.
Cycle Heaven, Hospital Fields Road

The proposals for York Central – like almost every new development today – talk about “encouraging walking and cycling” and refer to “high quality cycle infrastructure”. But what does this actually mean – what makes a good cycle route and hence a good cycle ride? What can we learn from York’s existing infrastructure in order to make York Central a place where people want to cycle? To find out, we’ll be doing a guided ride led by York Cycle Campaign, exploring the roads and cycle paths of York, and ending (as all good cycle rides do) with cake and chat. We’ll look at cycling infrastructure proposals for York Central and – with the experience of our ride fresh in our minds – discuss whether it will encourage us to cycle there.

The ride is open to anyone but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Some of the route is likely to represent less-than-ideal routes, so some confidence cycling in the vicinity of traffic is required. For those who are happier off-road we will be returning via New Walk riverside path so feel free to join us at 3:15 by the Blue Bridge for a leisurely return ride along New Walk. We’ll end the ride at Cycle Heaven on Hospital Fields Road and will gather in the cafe there to compare thoughts and ideas.

For more information on York Cycle Campaign:-
https://yorkcyclecampaign.bike/
Twitter @yorkcycle
Facebook @yorkcyclecampaign

The Life-Sized City: TOKYO
Sunday 15th April 1pm – 2pm (and join us for our ‘Pulling Together the Conversations’ workshop, 2-4pm)
All very welcome. No booking neccesary.
York Central represents a big change for York – but we’re not alone; other cities are changing too and they can bring to us ideas on how we shape our new piece of city around the people who will live, work and play there. The Life-Sized City is a ground-breaking documentary series that explores the anatomy and vibrancy of the modern city, highlighting pockets of life-sized goodness in cities around the world. Each episode focuses on one city and on what makes it livable for its residents.

MOVEMENT Pulling Together the Week’s Conversations):
Turning the Post-Its (and everything else contributed) into a meaningful brief.
Sunday 15th April, 2-4pm
York Central Exhibition in the National Railway Museum.
All very welcome. There will be cake….
During the Festival of York Central every week there will be 10s maybe even 100s or 1000s of conversations about York Central going on and people will be contributing in many different ways. Through events, in the York Central exhibition and through social media. At the end of each week, we’ll gather all the contributions together and open to some collective analysis. What are the main themes? Where are the unresolved tensions? What else do we need to know? Who else do we need to pull into the conversation? We’ll produce a summary board that can be displayed in the gallery as the conversation moves on to the next theme.

The Role of Arts & Culture in York Central
Monday 30th April,2018, 6:15pm – 8:00pm
York Explore, Museum Street
Book your free place

Good design should seek to add to the city’s overall cultural qualities as a place, and also enhance its cultural capacity — its ability to create opportunities for cultural creation, expression, learning, sharing, and enjoyment….”

So says York’s draft Local Plan. But why is it important to consider and plan for the arts and culture in a development like York Central, and in a city like York? And if it’s important, how can we make it happen?

Facilitated by Hazel Colquhoun and Robert Powell, this event will include presentations and discussion, and help lay the groundwork for further activities and action in the future.

Robert Powell is a York-based writer and poet with over 30 years experience in the arts and place-making. From 1997-2015 he was Director of Beam, a company dedicated to promoting the role of artists and communities in designing and improving public spaces and places.

Hazel Colquhoun has worked throughout the UK as a consultant on arts and cultural projects for over 20 years, with a particular interest in working outside formal arts spaces, public art and place-making. Based in York, she has recently co-curated “Look Up” the major temporary commissioning programme for Hull 2017, UK City of Culture.

My York Central Vision – and how to make it happen?
12th May 2018, 2-4pm
Friargate Quaker Meeting House
Book your free place
Drawing on four weeks of events, literally 1000s of Post-Its and four open ‘working’ briefing documents, we’ve pulled together a draft vison for York Central. In this event, we’ll reflect on the vision, discuss and rework it collectively. We’ll also move on to identify in what way different aspects of the vision need to be explored further and what would be need to be in place to make these shared ideas happen on York Central. In order to underpin these discussions we’ll open up questions of which parameters will be fixed in the August outline planning application and how issues of financial viability will be handled.

 

How can York Central enable careers and businesses in the railway industry?
24th May, 6.00-8.00pm
National Railway Museum, entrance further away from the station
Book your free place

York Central is an area of York famous for railways. From the Holgate Road Carriage Works which opened in 1884 through to

the National Railway Museum which moved to its current site in 1975 and the new Network Rail Operating Centre and Training Campus which opened in 2014, the area has sustained and continues to sustain employment and innovation in the railway industry as well as public engagement and interest in the histories and futures of the railway. In this event we will explore how the development of York Central can continue and extend this tradition. We will explore the different ways the site might enable careers and businesses in the railway industry, from the inspiration young people might feel at the National Railway Museum’s new interactive Wonderlab through to understanding the benefits of clustering high tech railway businesses through hearing about Derby’s Pride Park.

The event will be introduced by John Nelson, who has lived in Holgate since he came to York as General Manager of BR’s then Eastern Region in 1987. Coincidentally this included responsibility for railway activities then on the York Central site. Moving to be Managing Director of Network South East in 1992, subsequent to privatisation in 1997 he established the Hull Trains company and as a consultant advised government, rail authorities and companies alike. His work included undertaking a review of the funding arrangements applied to Network Rail by the Office of Rail Regulation in 2009. In 2010/11 he was a member of the Advisory Board established by government as part of the McNulty Review of railway structures and value for money. He was a member of the NRM Advisory Board for several years and in 2013 received a National Rail Award for his “outstanding personal contribution to the Industry”.

Speakers:
Lynne Minett, National Railway Museum. Delivering a range of public engagement programmes, Lynne leads the Learning and Events department at the National Railway Museum.

Alastair Morrison, Head of Sales and Marketing, Tracsis, high tech solutions for railway logistics based at Derby’s Pride Park.


York Central Community Heritage Group: What can we learn by looking at old maps and old photographs?

2nd June 11-1pm
Friargate Meeting House
Book your free place
During the Festival of York Central we ran lots of different events exploring the histories and heritage of York Central, from archaeological prehistory to recent industrial heritage of the railways. One idea that came from the Archaeology event was to set up a Community Heritage Group for York Central. In this very first meeting of the group, we invite anyone interested to come along. We’ll be looking at what we can learn about the area by looking at old maps and old photographs. If you have any old photographs of Holgate or Leeman Road, of Holgate Dock or the Carriageworks, bring them along! All very welcome.

 

Sustainable Construction on York Central
13th June 2018, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
York Explore
Book your free place

During the Festival of York Central many people expressed a wish for development on York Central to be of the highest standards of sustainable construction; for it to be an exemplar which went beyond statutory requirements and demonstrated the benefits of higher performance. But what does “sustainable” mean and how can high standards be guaranteed when the word is so often casually applied? How can we use a mix of well-tried good practice and genuine innovation in order to create buildings and places which will guide York in its commitment to being a One Planet city?

This workshop session will feature presentations by experts on three themes:-

Innovative Development – Chris Thompson and Jonathan Wilson of Citu will explain how Citu build ultra-low carbon places at the cutting edge of sustainability, with a focus on building for people, not cars (or investors!). They will be sharing how Citu’s people first approach is taking shape at the Climate Innovation District
Sustainable Materials – Rachel Trend of Native Architects, looking at new uses for natural materials including strawbale, hempcrete and woodfibre insulation
Passivhaus and beyond – Phil Bixby of Constructive Individuals, exploring how Passivhaus design and construction plus renewables can bring really low-carbon, comfortable living

My York Central’s eight Big Ideas include “build in low running costs through high standards” and our underpinning principles include community engagement and co-design. This workshop will give a chance to gain knowledge about current technology and practice, to discuss ways in which those high standards can be implemented on York Central, and how you might be able to help this happen.

This event is held in partnership with York Explore

A Hub for Creativity and Innovation: How can York Central become a focus for an exchange of learning and skills which benefits the whole of York?

5th July, 3-8pm. Drop in anytime but sign up to say you’re coming.
Friargate Meeting House.

During the Festival of York Central many people identified the opportunity which the development presents for creating a hub which catalyses York’s creativity and innovation. In digital media, science, technology and railway engineering, heritage and culture, York is already home to a unique range of initiatives and businesses.

  • How can we build a new part of the city which consciously fosters this and enables new connections and partnerships across the boundaries of art, culture, digital technology and engineering?
  • With an uncertain future for conventional employment, how can York’s resources of knowledge and experience best be used to enable rich, fulfilling lives for people who live here?
  • Can we create a culture of exchange which transforms learning and training and more broadly shapes York Central?

My York Central is working in partnership with City of York Council and others to look at how we can make this happen.

  • What buildings, facilities, networks and partnerships would be needed to enable this innovative approach to learning and skills?
  • Would this be a building, a local network, or both?
  • Who would need to be involved and how?

We are running an event to capture ideas, develop outline proposals and discuss them, and to shape a brief for one of York Central’s most exciting potential projects. If you can only spare limited time, then please drop in for a while; if you can stay longer then be part of developing and moving forward the ideas.

Refreshments will be provided!

York Central Open Workshop No.1 – Movement principles and proposals
6.00-8.00pm, Wednesday 18th July (Please note – registration closes Monday 16th July (6pm)).

Book your free place

The York Central Partnership invites you to learn more about how your feedback has helped to shape and evolve plans for York Central as it continues to engage on proposals for the development.

This public workshop (1 of 2), organised in collaboration with My York Central, will focus on movement and the emerging masterplan.

  • How would you like to get around York Central in the future?
  • What could it be like to move through, across, and into the site?

This will include the emerging plans for Leeman Road, Marble Arch, the Western access route and the improved Southern pedestrian/ cycle route as well as movement and traffic impact.

York Central Open Workshop No.2 – Masterplan and governance
6.00-8.00pm, Thursday 19th July
Book your free place. (Please note – registration closes Monday 16th July (6pm))

The York Central Partnership invites you to learn more about how your feedback has helped to shape and evolve plans for York Central as it continues to engage on proposals for the development.

This public workshop (2 of 2), organised in collaboration with My York Central, will focus on the updated masterplan including design, landscape, housing, uses and governance.

The session will also explain the structure of the planning application and future governance, design and planning process.

Please note – registration closes Monday 16th July (6pm).

York Central Movement: In depth and in context
30th July 6-8pm
National Railway Museum (the entrance furthest away from the station)
Book your free place

The York Central outline planning application will be submitted on 8th August. This workshop will explore the York Central plans for movement (walking; cycling; cars; taxis; buses) in depth as well as to put the plans in the context of the city’s transport strategy more generally. Alongside representatives of York Central Partnerships masterplanning team who will introduce the strategy and recent transport modelling, Professor Tony May (Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds and York Civic Trust) will help inform our discussions. In particular we will focus on the issue of how – in keeping with council policy and the My York Central Big Ideas – the masterplan can prioritise pedestrian and cycling; identify means of encouraging public transport use and explore how car movement through the site can be managed in the context of the wider road network.

Community-led economic development on York Central
6:00pm – 8:00pm Thursday 2nd August
York Explore, Museum Street

One of the “Big Ideas” which came out of the community engagement through the Festival of York Central was the proposal for “a community made through exchange”. How can we create a part of the city where people use their capital – skills, time, money – to invest in the people, places and buildings which bring life to their streets and neighbourhood? How can we build in connections which make that process of exchange more fertile and rewarding for all? And what can we learn from successful initiatives elsewhere, where people have joined together to create more vibrant communities?

This will be a workshop session with talks by a number of people who can bring expertise and practical experience to the discussion, who will also be there to facilitate debate and help us finish with concrete next steps which we can take together. Guests will include:-

Richard Norton – Headingley Development Trust and HEART / Imelda Havers – Blue Fish Regeneration / Red Tower Project / Mora Scaife, City of York Council

This event is held in partnership with York Explore

How viability will shape York Central
6:00pm – 8:00pm Wednesday 8th August
York Explore, Museum Street

Although the economics of large-scale developments are complex, the basic principles are reasonably straightforward and open to anyone to understand. We have heard many times that the site is “expensive”, but how expensive, and what implications does this have? How much does it drive questions of density and building height, and does it restrict – or conversely encourage – opportunities to pursue innovative ideas within the development?

This will be a workshop session with talks by a number of people who can bring expertise and practical experience to the discussion, who will also be there to facilitate debate and help us finish with concrete next steps which we can take together. Guests will include:-

Andy Dainty – Urbo Regeneration

This event is held in partnership with York Explore

Policy into practice on York Central
6:00pm – 8:00pm Thursday 16th August
York Explore, Museum Street

York has signed up to a number of policies which reflect the principles and aspirations of local people and their representatives. We are a One Planet city which implies a broad set of principles; we are a Human Rights City and also a UNESCO Creative City. What do these, and other, pledges imply in terms of how we carry out development, and how are they shaping the proposals for York Central?

This will be a workshop session with talks by a number of people who can bring expertise and practical experience to the discussion, who will also be there to facilitate debate and help us finish with concrete next steps which we can take together. Guests will include:-

Chris Bailey speaking on UNESCO Creative Cities / Liz Lockey speaking about York: Human Rights City / Paul MaCabe on One Planet York

This event is held in partnership with York Explore

Community-led housing on York Central
6:00pm – 8:00pm Monday 20th August
York Explore, Museum Street

Affordable housing was one of the biggest issues from the public engagement at the Festival of York Central. There is a pledge to deliver 20% affordable housing within the development proposals but how can local people take a lead in developing ideas which go beyond this? Can we learn from Leeds Community Homes and Yorspace and look for models of home-building and tenure which open up opportunities to create additional homes which suit the financial (and other) needs of different people? Can we look for ways of providing homes which differ from developers’ standard offer? What about co-housing, shared ownership, self-build?

This will be a workshop session with talks by a number of people who can bring expertise and practical experience to the discussion, who will also be there to facilitate debate and help us finish with concrete next steps which we can take together. Guests will include:-

Jimm Reed – CoHo
James Newton – Yorspace

This event is held in partnership with York Explore

 

Events:

Co-Owned Neighbourhoods on York Central – Shaping a way forward
Thursday 28th November 2019
6.30-8.30pm
Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Lower Friargate, York, YO1 9RL

Our York Design Week event identified a range of issues – from sharing to wildness – and collective discussion of these flagged up a number of initial steps on the path towards a community partnership that could shape York Central and create homes, work, culture and play there. This event will look at these steps and we’ll start working out…

what sort of body should we establish to carry this process forwards?
how can we work towards a range of types of housing and tenures on York Central?
how can we shape wonderful, wild, open space in an urban environment?
how do we bring on board partners who will connect York’s amazing education and culture with learning, creativity and work?
how can we ensure the development responds to the climate emergency and zero-carbon commitments which York has made?

Come along and collectively take this forwards. An evening of sharing of ideas and knowledge, planning and setting of goals. If you’re new to York Central and the community’s vision for it, then take a look <a href=”https://myyorkcentral.org/about-my-york-central/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>here</a>.

 

 

York Central traffic impact and modelling – two workshops

A chance to understand the work being done to look at traffic impacts, and to question the assumptions on which it is based.

Workshop 1 – Friday 14th September, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Clementhorpe Room, Priory Street Centre

Workshop 2 – Thursday 20th September, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Penn Room, Friargate meeting house