Redesigned plans have been submitted for The Roman Quarter project in York, a major mixed-use development in the City Centre that includes a world class Roman visitor attraction.

Original plans for the project were recommended for approval by Officers but were refused by City of York’s Planning Committee in February 2021 and the development has been fully redesigned, taking on board feedback from the Council and other stakeholders.

It is now a “truly mixed-use development” including the Roman attraction – called EBORACUM – Grade A office space, an aparthotel and new homes. The project is a partnership between joint applicants Rougier Street Developments, owners of the site, and York Archaeological Trust.

Redeveloping Northern House, Rougier House and Society will be a major economic boost for York, delivering over £315m for the local economy over 30 years, as well as 625 new jobs for local people and a vibrant addition to the city’s cultural offer.

Architect Vincent & Brown has remodelled the plans and the vision is now made-up of two distinct buildings, that showcase the Roman attraction and breathe new life into Rougier Street.

The EBORACUM museum attraction will be a major addition to York’s economy, celebrating the city’s early Roman past and providing a major boost in the City’s visitor economy. It will also provide educational benefits and inspire the next generation of archaeologists and historians. The new attraction will be more than twice the size of the JORVIK Viking Centre, which the Trust has run successfully for over 35 years. In that time it has welcomed around 20 million visitors.

Integral to the plans are a two-year archaeological dig that will be streamed across the world and will give the opportunity for every school child in York to take part. This landmark dig will help to tell York’s unique story and provide more information on the lives of previous generations.

This mixed-use scheme includes an 88-room aparthotel and 153 new apartments with both being run by ‘Beyond’ an innovative sustainable operator. The sites will be carbon neutral, minimise waste and use zero chemicals to clean to provide healthy spaces for guests, staff and the wider community.

An additional 25,000 sq ft of new Grade A Office space will complete the scheme, providing much-needed quality, modern office space in the heart of York city centre.

The proposed building will sit lower than its neighbours, the new Malmaison hotel, Aviva offices and The Grand Hotel.

The new proposals deliver vastly improved public realm with improved active frontages at ground level on Rougier Street. It will re-open a historic Roman street – Tanner Street – and provide a connection between Tanner’s Moat and Tanner Row, bringing a new vibrancy to this area with public open space and soft landscaping introduced.

A spokesperson for North Star, who are working alongside the applicants, said: “During the past year, we have worked closely with the Council and taken on board feedback to ensure that the new proposals offer as many benefits as possible and address the reasons for refusal.

“We are grateful for the feedback from the Planning Committee and have addressed the comments that the previous design was ‘monolithic’ by making the design more fluid and breaking up the massing of the development. The new plans retain the benefits of the original concept but in much improved design.

“These plans offer a once in a generation opportunity to regenerate this part of the City Centre, as well as creating a globally unique Roman visitor attraction, in a high-quality mixed-use scheme.”

David Jennings, Chief Executive of the York Archaeological Trust, said: “We are still very excited by this project, seeing how much the Roman Quarter can potentially contribute to York’s economy and future. Plans for the Coppergate Centre – including the basement attraction that became JORVIK – were approved at the second submission by members of a planning committee who shared the vision for an attraction that built on York’s heritage as part of a wider, mixed-use development. We would urge their counterparts to do the same.

“What is also important to recognise is that this is an incredibly rare opportunity: the location, quality of archaeological deposits and partnership of developer and archaeological charity is highly unlikely to be offered to the city again. The high cost of undertaking this work means that it needs a special commitment to realise the public value – without recourse to the public purse – that, like JORVIK before it, will give back to the community for decades to come.”

A decision on the plans is expected in the coming months.

Work has begun to create a footbridge across the River Aire which will commemorate the lasting legacy of a man who drowned after being racially harassed. David Oluwale, who had travelled to the UK from Nigeria, was tragically targeted because of his mental health, homelessness and race. He died in the river in 1969 in an incident of racial injustice which left a lasting social and cultural legacy as well as inspiring a string of moving books and plays. Working alongside the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) and local partners, Leeds City Council will name the new bridge crossing the river from Sovereign Street to Water Lane in his memory, both to commemorate his death and demonstrate a lasting commitment to equality and inclusion in Leeds. Initial building work on the bridge has started, with the finished project forming one of the newest key elements of the ambitious South Bank regeneration programme. It will also help fulfil one of the project’s integral and long-standing priorities to ensure better pedestrian and cycling connection between the city centre, the train station, Aire Park and other green spaces around the city centre. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “David Oluwale’s story must never be forgotten and naming this bridge for him will stand as a lasting and poignant memorial to his profoundly tragic death and the legacy which he left behind. “It will also act as a symbol of the diverse place that Leeds is today and our shared hope that it will always be a better, brighter and more inclusive city which is better connected in every way.” Dr Emily Zobel Marshall, co-chair of the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) said: ‘This is another positive decision by Leeds City Council, who have been incredibly supportive of DOMA’s work over the past thirteen years. “David travelled to the UK in 1949 from Lagos, Nigeria, hoping for a brighter future and spent twenty years in Leeds. He was hounded to his death in the River Aire in 1969 by two Leeds police officers. At DOMA we keep David’s story alive in our educational and campaigning work against racism, mental ill-health and homelessness today. “Naming this bridge for David Oluwale gives residents and visitors alike a clear message that Leeds is dedicated to confronting the traumas of the past and becoming a place of welcome and sanctuary for all people.” West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE added: “The case of David Oluwale highlights just how important it is to challenge the disparities that people still experience across our communities. “This footbridge will be an enduring symbol of David’s life and a continued reminder of our collective responsibilities in calling out racism and promoting diversity. “As a national policing lead on Equality, Inclusion, Accountability and Transparency, I am doing all I can to place his legacy at the heart of our approach, ensuring that we all learn from the traumas of the past. “It is crucial that we are truly representative of the people we serve, and this ambition forms the bedrock of the Mayor’s first Police and Crime Plan, which is soon to launch.” The council is also very grateful to local businesses Asda and Leeds Building Society for their help and support to secure the landing rights for the bridge. The proposals for the regeneration of the city’s South Bank will provide 8,000 new homes and 35,000 new jobs, new educational establishments and a new city park.

Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, is today providing a trading update in respect of its financial year ended 31 December 2021, ahead of the announcement of its Full Year Results on 22 March 2022.

The Company now anticipates that EPRA NDV as at 31 December 2021 will be ahead of current consensus¹ as a result of Harworth’s strong operational performance throughout the year, good progress against the strategic objectives outlined in September 2021, and the impact of the tailwinds of a buoyant land and occupational market, particularly in the industrial & logistics sector, on its year-end portfolio valuation. Lynda Shillaw, Chief Executive, Harworth Group plc said: “Harworth continued its strong momentum in the second half, as we stepped into our ambitious strategy to double the size of the business over the next five to seven years, and continued to deliver places where people want to live and work. Our performance, combined with underlying market growth, has translated into a substantial year-on-year increase in EPRA NDV and Total Return. “In addition to the significant progress made during the second half across planning, direct development, lettings and land sales, we agreed terms for the conditional sales of our Ansty strategic land site and Kellingley development site, at significant premiums to book value. The proceeds from these sales once completed, alongside the larger senior debt facility we are currently finalising, should provide us with additional firepower to deploy across our development sites and near-term acquisition pipeline.” Harworth’s industrial & logistics pipeline² as at 31 December 2021 totalled 28.2 million sq. ft (31 Dec 2020: 27.3 million sq. ft) of which 7.3 million sq. ft was consented. Highlights of the second half included: • exchanging on the conditional sales of a strategic land site in Ansty, Warwickshire for £53.5 million and the Kellingley development site in Selby, North Yorkshire for £54.0 million; • acquiring a strategic land site in Rothwell, Northamptonshire, with the potential to deliver 1.5 million sq. ft of Grade A industrial & logistics space; • signing two final lettings at Logistics North in Bolton, Greater Manchester, completing the development and triggering one-off promote fees; and • an £11.6 million land sale at Gateway 36 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire for the development of a 340,000 sq. ft logistics facility. Harworth’s residential pipeline as at 31 December 2021 totalled 30,804 plots (31 Dec 2020: 30,668 plots), of which 9,978 plots were consented. Residential land sales accelerated during the year, totalling 1,411 plots (FY20: 873 plots), across sites including: Moss Nook, Merseyside; Simpson Park, South Yorkshire; and South East Coalville, Leicestershire. The average sales price per serviced plot ranged from £30k to £73k (FY20: £37k to £70k). The Investment Portfolio continues to deliver robust operational metrics, with 99% of rents relating to FY21 now collected, and, as at 31 December 2021, the portfolio had a vacancy rate of 2.7% (31 Dec 2020: 4.5%) and a WAULT of 11.5 years (31 Dec 2020: 12.5 years). Harworth remains well-capitalised and continues to manage its cashflows sustainably. As at 31 December 2021, net debt was £25.7 million (31 Dec 2020: £71.2 million). The Company has recently agreed in principle a new debt package comprising a five-year £200 million revolving credit facility together with a £40 million accordion, provided by RBS, Santander and HSBC. It has credit approval from all three lenders and negotiation of the facility agreement is at an advanced stage. The Company intends to deploy both proceeds from sales and the funds provided by its new debt facilities to: deliver the 3.2 million sq. ft first phase of direct development that it has identified within its consented industrial & logistics pipeline; broaden the range of residential products across its development sites, including the launch of a 600-unit single-family rental product in 2022; and scale up its land acquisition and promotion activities. In the second half, the Company also made a number of appointments to enhance further its senior leadership team and deliver its growth strategy, including Andrew Blackshaw as Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Haigh as Chief Investment Officer, Haroon Akram as Head of Strategy, Investment & Business Development and James Crow as Head of Mixed Tenure. These appointments bring significant expertise to the business and place Harworth in a strong position to deliver future growth. ¹ Current analyst consensus for 31 December 2021 EPRA NDV per share is 189p, comprising four analyst forecasts ranging from 187p to 194p. ² Includes Ansty strategic land site and Kellingley development site, for which sales had conditionally exchanged at year-end

Wayside Holiday Park, in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors, has been granted planning permission for a “game-changing” new development. Ryedale District Council has approved plans for Wayside to create 13 new pitches for luxury caravans and lodges in the centre of the park. The £200,000 state-of-the-art development means the end of seasonal touring caravans on site. Owner Mark Goodson explained this was a “transformational move,” taking Wayside up-market and breathing new and exciting life into the holiday park, creating a quality environment in its heart. “This is a crucially important development for us – and we are grateful to Ryedale District Council’s planners for giving us the green light. We are confident that the demand for our new pitches is there, given the staycation boom and the tremendous success of our up-market Lakes development at Wayside, where we have sold 36 out of 37 lodges.” Work has now begun on the new development at Wayside and is scheduled to be completed by August, when the park opens for the new season.