Changes to railway museum plan to stop overheating
National Railway MuseumChanges to stop a new building at a York museum overheating have been approved.
City of York Council planning officials have approved a revised design for the new Central Hall at the National Railway Museum (NRM).
Revisions include reducing glazing in the Museum Square building's rooflight to prevent the interior overheating, along with different cladding on the outside.
The alterations, which also include lowering the height of the building, followed assessments and would reduce the visual impact of its design, plans stated.
Initial plans for the new building, which will house an exhibition on technology and the future of the railways, were first approved in 2022.
Construction was set to be completed by next year as of July 2025, with a revised opening date yet to be confirmed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Amendments made by NRM include making the building's oculus rooflight smaller and higher, while lowering the overall height of the roof.
To tackle overheating fears, the height of windows in the drum have also been reduced and brickwork on the front of the café is set to be changed.
Additionally, copper cladding fitted to the front of the Central Hall building will be narrower than originally planned.
'Architectural expression'
The application stated the changes would strengthen the architectural expression of the building and make the arrival entrance clearer to visitors.
Council planning officers added the proposed changes "would not affect the fundamental scale, position, design or character" of the development.
The new museum building is planned as part of the wider York Central development which is currently underway.
Plans for a hotel, shops, leisure spaces and almost 1,000 homes were lodged in December as part of the latest phase of the scheme.
It marked the latest step in the regeneration of the brownfield site behind York Station off Leeman Road as part of a project worth about £2bn.
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