The York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission document is published today for public consultation. This final phase of public consultation for the plan will run from today (16 December) until Sunday 14 February 2021.

This consultation consolidates the responses and proposals submitted as part of the Chapter of York’s announcement on the future of the York Minster Precinct launched in May 2018, and the subsequent draft Neighbourhood Plan developed with the oversight of the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum from 2019 until January 2020. The Coronavirus Pandemic has had a significant impact both on the schedule for the consultation process and on the Minster’s original proposals.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster explained:

“In January 2020, we consulted on the Pre-Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan.  The approved Plan was broadly very well received by the city with the principal comments focussed on highways and cycling within the Precinct.  The process has been on hold since March 2020 in light of the Covid-19 crisis, a key consequence of which has been the closure of the Minster School.

“As a result, the Neighbourhood Plan needs to be amended to take account of the school estate which means a significant change to Area 1 of the Plan, the area to the south of the Minster.  A principal change is the proposal to convert the Old Song School into a new Refectory as well as create new public space for residents and visitors to enjoy.  A new ticket and box office will also be created.   This is a material change to the Pre-Submission Draft and therefore we need to bring the Plan back to the Forum for comment before placing on public deposit.

Commenting on the consultation, Mark Calvert, a local resident and Chair of the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum, said the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan has always been about creating a more sustainable future for the Minster and its Precinct.  Mark said:

“The Neighbourhood Plan will provide a long-term policy framework and a co-ordinated spatial plan.  This will guide York Minster in managing its limited resources appropriately to maintain a viable and sustainable business model, to support the ongoing care of the Minster over the next 15 years and beyond.  Importantly, the Neighbourhood Plan gives residents and businesses the opportunity to create a shared sustainable vision of how they would like the Precinct to develop over the next 15 years and this Plan is the culmination of almost three years work and 22 weeks of public consultation.

“This will be the last opportunity for people to have their say on the proposals before they go to City of York Council.  I urge local residents to get involved in shaping this work.”

In May 2018, the Chapter of York, the governing body for York Minster, launched a public consultation on the future development and use of the buildings and land within the York Minster Precinct and boundaries.

Following consultation and detailed collaboration with the Minster’s immediate neighbours and statutory bodies, a neighbourhood forum, comprised of those who live and work in the Precinct, was established in 2019, to scrutinise the proposals to ensure that they were viable, sustainable and appropriate for the needs of the local community.

Now 66-strong, the York Minster Neighbourhood Forum, has given its formal approval for the Pre-Submission Document published today.  Comments are particularly sought on:

• Revised Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan
• The Updated Sustainability appraisal
• Heritage Impact Assessment.

How to respond to the consultation

1. The public consultation on the York Minster Neighbourhood Precinct Plan – Pre Submission Draft runs from Wednesday 16 December until 12 midnight on Sunday 14th February 2021.  To comment on the consultation online go to: https://yorkminster.org/about-us/master-planning/

1. Consultation boards will also be part of a public exhibition at York Minster.  The boards will be on display on the Queen’s Path, York Minster, during the consultation period.