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Top class shops pledge for city
10:35am Wednesday 21st May 2008
"FIRST class" high street retailers could be arriving in York, after a property development firm revealed it has concluded a multi-million pound deal to buy a city centre site.
Property development and investment company Oakgate Group Plc revealed it has bought the site currently occupied by Boots The Chemist, in Coney Street/Market Street, York - and that it was "highly likely" the lot would contain shops rather than offices after Boots moves out.
Boots is set to cease trading at the premises on July 29, before it opens a new store in Coney Street/Spurriergate the following day.
The group said high street names have expressed interest in moving into the site, but that it could not say specifically which ones.
Richard France, managing director of Oakgate, which is based in Wetherby, said: "This deal proves Coney Street is still one of the finest retail areas in the whole of the north of England.
"We're already experiencing tremendous interest in the high-quality site and are looking forward to attracting first-class high street retailers to York."
The group said it was likely the lot would be split into two or three units.
But it said whether the premises would comprise one unit, or whether they would take the form of two or three, would depend on the interest from prospective tenants, and that "all options were open".
It said it would undertake an intensive six-nine month first-class refurbishment of the site, and it would be ready to be opened by next summer.
The company said the Market Street entrance - the rear entrance of Boots - would have a "completely new look" and façade.
There was speculation earlier this year that Primark might move into the premises, but the clothing chain yesterday said that while it was still looking for a suitable site in York, it was unable to comment on those specific premises.
Outgoing City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said: "(The deal) guarantees another major investment in modernising the city centre retail environment and is particularly good news for Coney Street.
"I hope that this will confound the gloom and doom stories of a few weeks ago."
Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's excellent news. It's a good confidence boost - the fact that a site as important as that right in the heart of the city should be developed so quickly, and we look forward to seeing the development completed."
David Scott, leader of the Labour Group on City of York Council, said: "My brief is that it's got to stay as retail - office space wouldn't be appropriate there.
"What we need is to attract big retail names so that Coney Street maintains its vitality, which will have a beneficial effect upon Coney Street, not a negative effect."
Your Say YourPress
ghost of oscar deutsch, says...
7:48pm Wed 21 May 08
Then again they might not. York has an absence of anything approaching first class. The same high street generic names, in some cases more than one branch, all washed down with MochaFocaCappuccino from the same generic coffee shops.
What does the council do to attract any quality retailers? Do they in fact do anything. No didn't think so..
stevexbooth, Clifton Moor says...
6:58pm Wed 21 May 08
TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land says...
2:55pm Wed 21 May 08
amigo wrote:I'd like to see that too. Just not sure if a market that frequent will attract enough traders as they all seem to travel around a number of regular markets in different locations each month.
TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache wrote:hey whats a local famer? is that Sean Bean? Seriously though, once a month could be once a weekBrian wrote: I would sooner see a local market in parliament street, selling fresh yorkshire produce ,promoting goods/food made in yorkshire similar to the set up they do for the european ones,Iam sure tourists would love to see this as the market we have is hidden away , the big name stores pay their rates ,employ a few locals (sometimes)but dont really do a lot on a local level .Hang about - there is a local famers market in Parliament Street once a month or so doing exactly that.
redraw1979, York says...
2:35pm Wed 21 May 08
TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land says...
2:15pm Wed 21 May 08
Brian wrote:Something a little bit like this perhaps...
I would sooner see a local market in parliament street, selling fresh yorkshire produce ,promoting goods/food made in yorkshire similar to the set up they do for the european ones,Iam sure tourists would love to see this as the market we have is hidden away , the big name stores pay their rates ,employ a few locals (sometimes)but dont really do a lot on a local level .
http://www.york.gov.
uk/business/Markets/
Farmers_markets/Farm
ers_markets1/
Don't know why no-ones thought of it before.
amigo, york says...
2:10pm Wed 21 May 08
TheManWithTheFuManchuMoustache wrote:hey whats a local famer? is that Sean Bean? Seriously though, once a month could be once a week
Brian wrote: I would sooner see a local market in parliament street, selling fresh yorkshire produce ,promoting goods/food made in yorkshire similar to the set up they do for the european ones,Iam sure tourists would love to see this as the market we have is hidden away , the big name stores pay their rates ,employ a few locals (sometimes)but dont really do a lot on a local level .Hang about - there is a local famers market in Parliament Street once a month or so doing exactly that.
TheManWithTheFuManch
uMoustache, LaLa land says...
2:04pm Wed 21 May 08
Brian wrote:Hang about - there is a local famers market in Parliament Street once a month or so doing exactly that.
I would sooner see a local market in parliament street, selling fresh yorkshire produce ,promoting goods/food made in yorkshire similar to the set up they do for the european ones,Iam sure tourists would love to see this as the market we have is hidden away , the big name stores pay their rates ,employ a few locals (sometimes)but dont really do a lot on a local level .
amigo, york says...
2:00pm Wed 21 May 08
amigo, york says...
2:00pm Wed 21 May 08
Brian, york says...
1:54pm Wed 21 May 08
Tom2, York says...
1:49pm Wed 21 May 08
TW wrote:Excellent post - cheers.
"FIRST class" high street retailers could be arriving in Yorkand that it was "highly likely" the lot would contain shopsWe're already experiencing tremendous interestThe group said it was likely the lot would be split into two or three units.Nothing definite then !! And yet our great (ex) local leader comes up withOutgoing City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said: "(The deal) guarantees another major investmentInvestment - yes; occupied units - no
The Crack Fox, Coming at you, like a razor says...
1:08pm Wed 21 May 08
bernard, says...
1:02pm Wed 21 May 08
Katherine Mondavi, Nether Poppleton says...
12:20pm Wed 21 May 08
TW, Wrong Planet says...
11:39am Wed 21 May 08
"FIRST class" high street retailers could be arriving in York
and that it was "highly likely" the lot would contain shops
We're already experiencing tremendous interest
The group said it was likely the lot would be split into two or three units.Nothing definite then !!
And yet our great (ex) local leader comes up with
Outgoing City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said: "(The deal) guarantees another major investmentInvestment - yes; occupied units - no
GoodramgateTerrier, York says...
11:12am Wed 21 May 08
Richard France, managing director of Oakgate, which is based in Wetherby, said: "This deal proves Coney Street is still one of the finest retail areas in the whole of the north of England
Has he actually been down Coney Street? Perhaps perused at the YMCA? Walked past the closed down Jack Jones, or the Holland and Barret? Not exactly high quality retail outlets are they!
(Nothing against H&B just maing a point)
More expensive pointless shops to add to York's status as a tourist trap basically then?
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The Coney Street entrance to Boots
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MichaelRutherford, York says...
12:33pm Thu 22 May 08