Future of Willow House site

Residents are being invited to start a “conversation” about plans for the Willow House site next to the Bar Walls.

It is the first sign of activity by the Council on a property which has been empty and unused for over 5 years. Together with the former Oakhaven care home in Acomb, it is one of the Councils major ongoing embarrassments.

News that any redevelopment planning application will not be ready for over 12 months will just add to residents frustrations.

Given the value of the site (over £3 million), it is a surprise that the Council are going to seek to redevelop the site itself using its “Shape Homes” front organisation.

The Council says, “The first drop-in event on the site of the former Willow House on Walmgate, will start sharing ideas between residents and architects from Stirling Prize-winners Mikhail Riches. This will include asking residents about the area and what they would want from new homes and open spaces.

It is hoped that the site which was an outdated care home can be added to the council’s ambitious Housing Delivery Programme. The programme will deliver 600 homes with twice the number of affordable homes required by planning and built to be highly energy efficient.

This will be the first of a series of three resident consultation events for this site, the same approach as was used successfully on other Housing Delivery Programme sites at Duncombe Barracks, Burnholme and Ordnance Lane”.

The drop-in event will take place on 29 June from 4-7pm on the green next to Walmgate Bar. Residents can also join a walk around the site at 5pm. In the autumn, we’ll invite residents to a hands-on design workshop with the team and, early in the new year, we will also organise a local exhibition and an online survey on the plans to date. A full planning application is planned to be submitted by summer 2022.

Barbican site

Meanwhile, just over the road from Willow House, the long term empty building site next to the Barbican has apparently been occupied by squatters. Whether this improves the appearance of one of York’s biggest eyesores – and missed opportunities – remains to be seen.

Certainly, according to media reports, the protestors have a very naïve view of what can be achieved using the Council’s compulsory purchase powers.

Yet fundamentally they are right. Persimmons – the owners – have consistently failed to explain why they haven’t developed what is a valuable prime site. Their position is doubly confusing when judged against a background of continuing heavy demand for city centre properties in the City.

They have exacerbated the problem by failing to keep the area tidy.

We doubt that the York Council would do any better – they have left too many of their own properties vacant in the City (see above) to able to preach.

There may be a germ of an good idea, though, if a “Friends of Barbican Park” group could take over the maintenance of the area. At least in the short term, it has potential to be a welcome “natural area” in what otherwise is a largely concrete enclave.

Certainly those who walk the City Walls would appreciate an improved view.

Residents to lose influence on planning decisions

The York Council will consider next week its reaction to controversial changes to planning laws being promoted by the government.

Although some of the proposals will be welcomed – they include commitments to green space and tree planting – other look set to reduce the amount of influence that local communities have on what is built in their area.

The government also seems to be willing to address the problem of delays on sites which already have planning permission (e.g. the British Sugar site on Boroughbridge Road) and other derelict sites that developers have put in their “land banks” (e.g. the site next to the Barbican).

There are no proposals, however, which would force Local Authorities to release unused land and empty buildings for reuse.

But the general drift away from community control on planning applications will be seen by many as a step in the wrong direction. Zoning land for “Growth” (areas suitable for substantial development), “Renewal” (areas suitable for development), and areas that are “Protected” (e.g. Green Belt) simply ignores the knock on effect that the scale and timing of development can have on a local community .

The proposal also sets the percentage of affordable homes which must be provided in new developments of over 50 homes, and how they will be allocated (first time buyers will be offered 25% of them)

The proposals will allow retail premises to change to offices, or vice versa, without the need for planning permission.

Existing legislation allows for permitted development rights to be used which facilitate the conversation of existing offices to residential units.

The report also confirms that 14 developers in York have applied since March to extend the working hours on their sites. The concession will end in March 2021.

Residents can respond to the consultation via this link (click).

News awaited on future of Barbican eyesore site

The derelict site next to he Barbican was due to be sold by informal tender last November. There has been no word since then and the land is still listed with Savills (Leeds).

The site has an existing planning permission for 187 apartments.

The land has been available for development for over 10 years. Unfortunately it currently blights the local neighbourhood and is an unwelcome sight for visitors walking the City Walls.

The Contonavirus will have had an affect on the house building market although current demand for some types of property in the City is apparently strengthening. The reduction in Stamp Duty should provide a further boost.

It would be a shame if this key site were left as it is for another decade.

Local groups invited to apply to hold events at York Barbican

York-based groups, clubs and community organisations are invited to apply for a concessionary day’s hire of York Barbican in 2021.

The council is offering the concessionary days as part of its lease agreement with the Barbican’s operators, SMG. We’re interested in hearing from organisations which would like to take up one of the two opportunities available in 2021.

To be eligible to apply for a concessionary day, proposed events should:

Provide activities or entertainment that appeals to the widest cross-section of the local community
Be open and accessible to all with no restricted access
Promote the objectives of the City of York Council and where possible enhance campaigns or programmes being delivered by the council and its partners

Priority will be given to events that:

Have a high-quality programme
Engage communities e.g. through participation opportunities for local residents.

The concessionary day covers rental fees as well as charges for backstage and front of house facilities, technical equipment, front of house management, and stewarding.

It will not, however, cover items such as box office and credit card commission, marketing and additional staff for duties such as loading and unloading production equipment.

Councillor Darryl Smalley, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities, said: “The Barbican Concessionary days are a great opportunity for groups to put on events for the benefit of local residents in York’s largest music and arts venue. I’d urge anyone who’s interested to get in touch to find out more.”

Events that are primarily designed to be fundraisers are not supported.

For further information about the Barbican concessionary days email charlie.croft@york.gov.uk.

Applications should be submitted by Friday 17 January by email.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome promptly after that date.

Free use of the Barbican on offer

York-based groups, clubs and community organisations are invited to apply for a concessionary day’s hire of York Barbican next year.

To be eligible to apply for a concessionary day, proposed events should:

Provide activities or entertainment that appeals to the widest cross-section of the local community
Be open and accessible to all with no restricted access
Promote the council’s objectives of residents having good quality opportunities, access to community facilities and being listened to
and, where possible, enhance campaigns or programmes being delivered by the council and our partners.

Priority will be given to events that:

Have a high-quality programme
Engage communities e.g. through participation opportunities for local residents.

The successful organisations won’t have to pay rental fees or charges for backstage and front of house facilities, technical equipment, front of house management or stewarding. However, the concessionary days will not cover items such as box office and credit card commission, marketing and additional staff for duties such as loading and unloading production equipment.

Events that are primarily designed to be fund-raisers are not supported.

For further information about the Barbican concessionary days email charlie.croft@york.gov.uk. Please submit any applications by Tuesday 5 March 2019 to the same email address. Applicants will be informed of the outcome promptly after that date.

Barbican “free event” day allocated to York Archaeologists

When, seven years ago, the Barbican auditorium was leased to the private sector, one of the conditions was that the building should be made available, free of charge, twice a year, to local groups who wished to stage an event.

Next year, the York Archaeological Trust will stage a new event which will form part of the 2019 Viking Festival.

This will be a concert featuring several headline acts from around Europe, each of whom has a significant international and domestic following. This will bring a new audience to York and enhance the JORVIK Viking Festival which attracts over 60k visitors generating a spend of £4.5 m in the local economy.

York residents will also benefit from this event “as York proudly celebrates its Norse heritage and a Norse inspired music event will enable the local audience to get involve”.

This event will be unique to York; there is no other large scale celebration of Viking inspired music in the UK.

Would you like to hire the Barbican – York’s largest entertainment venue?

City of York Council is inviting York-based groups, clubs or community organisations to apply for a discounted, concessionary day’s hire of York Barbican.

The council offers the concessionary days as part of its lease agreement with the Barbican’s operators, SMG. It’s interested in hearing from organisations who would like to take up one of the two bookings available in 2019.

The proposed events should be open and accessible to all. They should positively engage York’s communities, either by providing new opportunities for local residents to get involved as participants in putting on a show or event, or by creating new audiences, drawing in those who would not normally have the opportunity to attend cultural events. Above all, events must add to the quality and vibrancy of York’s offer. Events which are primarily designed to be fund-raisers are not supported.

Recent events have included Tang Hall SMART hosting an event involving a wide range of community groups from the Tang Hall area in an inclusive community gig.
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Barbican made available for local groups

City of York Council is inviting York-based groups, clubs or community organisations to apply for a discounted, concessionary day’s hire of York Barbican.

Recent events have included Tang Hall SMART hosting an event involving a wide range of community groups from the Tang Hall area in an inclusive community gig.

Later this year, the York Music Hub Festival, attracting around 1,000 performers drawn from schools, out of school provision and community groups, will celebrate the musical achievements of children and young people across the city whilst, in the second event, the LGBT forum will be creating an evening of song and dance to celebrate a life of diversity in York for the whole city. (more…)

What’s on in York: Festival of Remembrance on Sunday at the Barbican

Council decides who will use Barbican free days in 2018

York Barbican

The York Council has decided to allocate the two free “community days” at the Barbican auditorium in 2018 to York Pride and the York Music hub

York Pride is a registered charity working for the LGBT community in York. According to the Council, they propose to create an evening of song and dance that celebrates a life of diversity in York for the whole city hosted by the LGBT community. A unique blend of west end musical numbers performed by West End singers and joined by community groups and singers to represent themselves, encouragement will be given to local dance groups and music community groups for the disabled, LGBT and Youth groups.

Hosted by a local celebrity to bring together all the strands and stories it will combine acts, groups and musical numbers allowing each and every person to shine. The event will encourage diversity and acceptance in our society and promote a campaign that Hate Crime is not tolerated in York no matter of your gender, sexuality, race, creed, colour or faith.

The charity have identified the performers and celebrities from a unique and diverse group that already exists in York who have established connections within the city to bring the event together.

York Music Hub is a newly established charity dedicated to providing the highest quality of opportunities for children and young people and seeks to foster a life-long love of music, both within and beyond the classroom.

The hub provides opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage together with access for pupils to high quality music experiences working with professional musicians and venues. The Hub proposes to stage the York Music Hub Festival, celebrating the musical achievements of children and young people from across the city, drawn from schools, out of school provision and community groups.

This high profile event is expected to attract around 1,000 performers and an audience of up to 2500 (spread across 2 events – one in the afternoon and one in the evening). This will be the first major event organized by the new York Music Hub.

The “free” days were negotiated by the Council in 2010 as part of the lease arrangement which saw the private sector taking over the running of the Barbican.