reorb

York is well-known as a tourist destination with its rich heritage dating back to the Roman occupation of England. By the turn of the 13th century York, as the county’s administrative hub, had become an important centre for trade which helped the city to fl ourish economically. Towards the end of the medieval period the city’s best known architectural sight, York Minster, was built, the largest cathedral of its type in the country and one of Europe’s most imposing Gothic churches. During the industrial revolution, York benefi ted signifi cantly from railway construction and related industries, however the York railway carriage works, which once employed some 22,000 people is now closed. More recently York has been famous for its chocolate production and the local Nestle/Rowntree factory is still producing famous brands such as Smarties, Kitkat and the Yorkie bar. However, in recent decades this industry has experienced a steady decline largely due to manufacturing increasingly being moved to offshore locations. Modern York is much more service oriented and major employers now include City of York Council, Aviva, the two universities and those located at York Science Park. In this paper we look at how York is positioned in terms of growth as the country emerges from the recession, and review the projects, currently underway or in the wings, which might allow the city to improve its economic standing and lead growth in the Yorkshire region.

In many larger centres and quality market towns, retail developments have continued to progress due to the need for more, and better configured, space.