A Green and Civic Space… A Green and Civic Space…
An Amenity History of York's Castle Precinct
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York's Castle Precinct is currently included in plans for a large commercial development, Coppergate Riverside. A Public Inquiry was held beween January - June 2002 into these proposals which:
The Secretary of State wished to be informed on a number of issues, including whether the design of the new buildings is of sufficiently high quality alongside historic buildings in a Conservation Area, and the visual impact of the development on the character of York city centre. The outcome of the inquiry is still awaited [1st August, 2003]. |
A photomontage by the York Tomorrow Group showing a suggested greening
of the area between Clifford's Tower and the River Foss..
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In the 1930s the City acquired the early nineteenth century gaol whose high walls surrounded most of the ancient castle. These were demolished, the eighteenth century buildings were restored and the area's green setting was enhanced. But the area in the foreground of the picture above remained unfinished at the start of the Second World War. Plans for civic amenities here have never been realised. Land used for car parking from 1946 remains a car park today: |
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Many groups and individuals are challenging the proposed development of this car park as a shopping parade, and there is general agreement that the Castle Precinct should be developed as a green and civic space. Commercial buildings which could go elsewhere would not be a civic amenity here. |
The black line shows part of the boundary of a large commercial development which is proposed for Piccadilly and the Castle Precinct. The red line shows the approximate footprint of a row of restaurants, offices, retail units, apartments and loading bays planned for the Castle Precinct. The development was approved by The City of York Council late in 2000. These pages contain information about the amenity planning of the Castle Precinct. They make no attempt to give a continuous history of the castle. Click the 'Next' button or go directly to each page |
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Amenity use before 1900 
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