A new, simple garden structure will be built to the rear of 2 Minster Court below the existing City Wall to replace the mason’s workshop at 4 Deangate.

The building will not only provide new facilities for scaffolders and gardeners, but also dedicated residential accommodation (six bedrooms around a shared kitchen and lounge) for the Minster’s first and second-year apprentices, as well as for international exchange visitors and trainees.

Stones from the Minster’s historic collection will be positioned so visitors along the city wall can engage with the process of conservation and restoration.

The building has been designed with sustainability at its heart and will feature a green roof, rainwater harvesting, solar panels, air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Existing materials will be retained where possible alongside a new lightweight timber structure, reflecting the common use of materials in medieval times.

A key element of the project will be the resurfacing of the existing 1970s cobbled road, which is currently uneven and hazardous.

This will be housed on the sites of the current Stoneyard and will incorporate additional space for York Glaziers Trust on Deangate.

The site currently comprises a range of buildings dating from the 19^th century to the late 20^th. The space will be reordered to house a state-of-the-art 5 Axis CNC saw and a new band saw. A new entrance will enable visitors to enter and watch operations from a dedicated viewing platform.

New lifting systems will be installed, including a rail system to collect the stone from deliveries on Deangate, and additional space created to reinforce our supply of stone on site.

A new drawing office will be created with modern IT and digital technology installed as an additional tool to the traditional setting out process, and refurbished support workshops will be provided for electricians, plumbers, joiners, heritage builders and department management.

The Hub will include the latest in low carbon and renewable technologies, with four-fifths of the power for the development coming from solar tiles in the new roof structure. Rainwater will also be collected, and all water used in the processing of stone, collected, filtered and recycled.

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