Joint developers McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate have selected Allies and Morrison as lead masterplanner for the 45-hectare site, working alongside international landscape firm Grant Associates.

The design appointments mark a major step forward for the £2.5bn scheme, which is being brought forward with landowners Homes England and Network Rail Property.

The project will deliver 2,500 homes, up to one million sq ft of office, retail and hospitality space, and major upgrades to York Railway Station and the National Railway Museum.

One million sq ft of offices, retail and leisure uses, to the rear of York station, will create a vast employment hub for northern England.

Allies and Morrison, which created the original masterplan, will now lead the overall design and a new Innovation Hub.

Grant Associates  will take on the parkland, public realm and future coal drops area.

The wider design team includes:

• Sheppard Robson, designing the 195,000 sq ft Government hub

• Cartwright Pickard and Corstorphine & Wright, delivering the residential and build to rent elements

• Haworth Tompkins, leading on affordable housing

• 3D Reid, designing the hotel and western station entrance

• re-form, handling Museum Square and public realm in the first phase

With £135m Government funding secured for vital infrastructure, works have begun on preparing the site for development which will take place in a number of phases.

Tom Gilman, managing director at McLaren Regeneration, said the firms were chosen for their track record in large-scale regeneration and deep understanding of York.

He said: “Now, we are excited to get to work on our plans, with an outstanding architectural team, our partners and the local community, to deliver what will be a vibrant, highly sustainable place, with expansive green space, and public realm, new homes and a major new employment hub for northern England.”