Speaking to The Press, Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, said the York-based company is aiming to start work at the site in September.
He admitted that the group’s riverside masterplan is a “difficult, complicated scheme” but said: “It will be delivered in its entirety.”
“It’s a big project, and it’s an important project – but it doesn’t come quickly. These things take time,” he added.
Mr Reeves said phase one of the scheme, granted planning permission last year, is due to get underway first.
Phase one includes refurbishing the shopfronts in Coney Street at the St Helen’s Square end of the street.
It will also see seven new residential apartments created in the currently unused upper floors of Coney Street units including the former JD Sports and Lush sites, as well as Mango.
And a new snickelway will be created by knocking through the former Lush and JD Sports units, below where the flats will be.
The snickelway will link to a new public space linked to the Guildhall, aiming to breathe new life into what is currently the Revolution bar’s bin area.
Mr Reeves said the snickelway is due to be moved further towards the former JD Sports unit to limit disruption to Mango, as the fashion store plans to stay put during the work.
A “slight amendment” must be made to the plans in order to move the snickelway, he said, which will require further planning approval.
Recommended reading:
- Coney Street masterplan by Helmsley Group approved
- Coney Street traders back Helmsley Group development plans
- 'Hard work doesn’t stop here,’ say developers pledging to transform Coney Street
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