21st Apr 2008

Hungate offices - an "icon" for our time?

York Greens have criticised the plans for the new six-storey glass and concrete council offices in Hungate.

The new buildings are intended to replace several other offices in buildings scattered around the city centre. The proposed office block would tower over the historic Grade II* listed Black Swan Pub next door.

Neil Hindhaugh, the council's Head of Property Services, described the new colossus as "an iconic building". Dave Taylor, Green Party councillor for Fishergate, said "the designers must have taken their cue from the nearby, widely-reviled Stonebow House when they came up with these plans". Andy Chase, the Green Parliamentary Candidate for York Central, described the new building as a "Legoland box".

Andy continued: "It's particularly worrying that the council leader has told us that, because of the council's financial situation, we can't afford a better building. If a private developer came up with such an argument, they would be laughed out of the planning committee. It's vital that proper time and consideration is given to getting a design of the quality that York deserves, and the council must allow time for this and for proper consultation with local people, not a perfunctory "box-ticking" exercise."

There are some welcome features of the building, such as rainwater recycling and a high standard of insulation. Andy said: "It's great that thought has been given to these issues. However, we must ensure that we don't, because of cost-cutting, end up with a building more worthy of a ring road industrial park than of York city centre."


You can read more on the Council's plans on their website.