£30m plan for new city centre museum and gardens

Plans for a new museum and gardens in York city centre have been submitted.

York Minster's governing body, the Chapter of York, has lodged proposals to develop the Old Palace Library and surrounding area close to Dean's Park which is adjacent to the Minster.

As part of the plans, the library building, which also houses the Minster's archives, could be turned into a museum and educational centre with a sensory garden.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Chapter's plans stated achieving its aims for the area would be subject to efforts to raise the necessary funds which are currently ongoing.

The Old Palace currently houses the Minster Library, which holds the historic printed collections of the Chapter of York dating back to the 1470s.

It is also a modern reference and lending library and is open to the public from Monday to Thursday.

Plans submitted to City of York Council stated that the formal sensory garden which could be created in the area around the Old Palace would support the wellbeing of the local community and wider city.

They added the building could be turned into the Minster's new dedicated museum which would also be a centre for learning and educational excellence.

"York Minster is more than 800 years-old, it welcomes more than 700,000 visitors a year and is a major tourist attraction in the North of England," stated the plans.

"The responsibility for caring for the building and its precinct falls with Chapter which relies on the generosity of various funding bodies and paying visitors.

"Ensuring a viable and sustainable business to underpin the care of the Minster lies at the heart of how the Chapter plans for the future."

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