Local residents seek to overturn controversial NRM Central Hall decision

Local residents are legally challenging the City of York Council’s decision to grant permission to the National Railway Museum (NRM) to build a new central hall and café across Leeman Road.

Local residents are legally challenging the City of York Council’s decision to grant permission to the National Railway Museum (NRM) to build a new central hall and café across Leeman Road.

The group has engaged a Leeds-based firm of planning lawyers to pursue a judicial review of the planning committee’s decision. A pre-action letter has been sent today to the Council and to the NRM, as a third party.

The development of the new central hall was approved after a knife-edge vote by the council's planning committee earlier this month.

The loss of Leeman Road as a route for pedestrians and cyclists has been raised as a major concern by local residents throughout the consultation and planning process.

“We have been trying to engage with the Council and the NRM for many years, but we have been totally ignored. They have put commercial interests before the interests of the local community,” said Dr Paul Clarke, a resident of St Peter’s Quarter, who is leading the legal challenge on behalf of local residents.

“The loss will severely impact the daily lives of thousands of local residents, particularly women, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. It also removes a key north-south cycle corridor.

“The alternative route adds nearly half a kilometre to our journey, along a path that won't feel safe after dark. The NRM has agreed to allow people to walk through during opening hours, but this only covers 50% of journeys made by local residents and they will have to battle through hordes of visitors.

“We are not opposed to the York Central development or the expansion of the NRM. We are only asking for the retention of a direct, safe route, to and from the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists that is available all day, every day of the year.

“We are fighting for the right for local communities to shape developments in the city of York that have a fundamental impact on their lives. Too often local communities are ignored by the Council,” he said.

To help cover their legal expenses the group has launched a crowdfund called Justice for Leeman Road: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice4leemanroad/