Join the conversation about Acomb Front Street’s future

Businesses, residents and visitors are being asked what they love and what they’d like to change about Acomb’s Front Street.

The consultation is the much delayed opportunity to help with the regeneration of the Front Street area.

Fruit stall

The council committed to a £50,000 investment in Front Street, one of the city’s most important shopping areas, before the pandemic brought about even larger challenges to high streets across the UK.

Acomb’s Front Street plays a vital role in the community and the wider city, and is home to many established and well-loved local independent retailers and community spaces. It has a lower than national average proportion of empty units, with occupancy rates bucking the UK trend by increasing significantly in the last three years.

The council is now asking for views which will help to keep Front Street at the heart Acomb’s economy and community.

The Council says that last year “we postponed the survey because of Covid-19. Your views in the survey will be used to create a ‘brief’ of community ideas which we can check with local people before the council executive decides what improvements to make”.

500 residents have already had a new COVID-secure knock on their door from IdB, a market research company working with the council.  The council is working alongside IdB to ask for feedback and ideas from a diverse and representative cross section of Acomb residents. The surveys will be dropped with residents in a sterile bag, along with gloves, an antiviral wipe and a return bag. The market researcher will then return later that day to collect the questionnaire.

Residents can also get involved by:

Way open for Acomb Library expansion

The development to the rear of the Acomb Library (Bowling Lane) is almost complete with most of the homes now occupied.

The Council owned site, currently being used as a builders yard, will shortly close opening the way for a start to be made on the long awaited upgrade to the Acomb Library.

The Council has a budget of £2 million allocated in each of the next two years (starting on 1/4/21) to provide “Centres of Learning and Opportunity for all” at Acomb & Clifton libraries.

Plans to provide a “one stop shop” for public services at Acomb Explore date back over a decade and the land to the rear of South View Terrace was purchased by the Council (from a local builder) with the intention of improving the whole area.

Sadly, that intention stalled, and the land became overgrown.  It was a major missed regeneration opportunity.

The “Lockdown” period has provided Council officials with adequate time to refined their proposals for the site and we expect to see public consultation starting shortly.

We do not want building activity in the area to continue for longer than is essential, so some drive and enthusiasm is now required.

The publication of a draft development timetable would be a good start.

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.

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12 Beechwood Glade York YO24 3JT

Crown reduce Oak tree by 15 – 20% protected by Tree Preservation Order no. CYC 132 

Ref. No: 21/00506/TPO 

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Telecommunications Mast Adjacent 11 Front Street York

Installation of 20m Orion street pole supporting 6no. antennas, 3no. remote radio units and 2no. 300mm dishes together with new equipment cabinet and associated ancillary development following removal of the existing 12.5m Elara street works pole 

Ref. No: 21/00470/FUL 

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council does not routinely consult neighbours by letter when an application is received

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.

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12 Beaconsfield Street York YO24 4ND

Erection of single storey extension extending 3.19 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.7 metres and a total height of 3.66 metres

Ref. No: 21/00234/LHE 

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Christines Nail And Beauty 21 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Three storey rear extension to 21 Front Street to create 1 no. dwelling.

Ref. No: 20/02155/LBC 

Christines Nail And Beauty 21 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Three storey rear extension to 21 Front Street to create 1 no. dwelling.

Ref. No: 20/02154/FUL 

The above two applications concern a proposal to extend a Grade 2 listed building.

A small cottage would be added.

Planning permission had previously been given for an extension but was never implemented.

There may be an element of controversy as the application would involve felling several mature trees.

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council does not routinely consult neighbours by letter when an application is received

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference.

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9 Front Street

9 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Proposal      Conversion of 2no. retail units to form single retail unit with external alterations to include replacement shopfront, external seating area to front and replacement door and external condenser to rear at 7-9 Front Street

Reference   21/00073/FUL

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

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218 Thoresby Road York YO24 3ER

Two storey side extension and single storey front extension 

Ref. No: 21/00086/FUL 

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99 Bellhouse Way York YO24 3LW

Two storey side extension and single storey front and rear extensions 

Ref. No: 21/00063/FUL 

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96 The Green Acomb York YO26 5LS

Fell mixed group of Sycamore, Hornbeam and Beech trees within the hedge line; dead wood, crown thin and crown lift to 4 metres 2no. Hornbeam trees – tree works in a Conservation Area 

Ref. No: 21/00037/TCA 

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Acorn Meat 7 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Non-material amendment to permitted application 17/00848/FUL to allow retention of internal staircase following removal of access to ground floor shop unit 

Ref. No: 21/00019/NONMAT 

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Representations can be made in support of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received

Keeping York tidy

The Council have told us that they won’t be clearing the fly tipping and rubbish from the rear of the Front Street shops.

Front Street

It is located on private land.

Nevertheless the Council does have a responsibility to make sure that the City is safe and tidy.

This may mean using enforcement powers.

Maybe not a top priority at the present time but this is an issue that has rumbled on for several years. It is now in the hands of local Councillors to follow up.

Cornlands park

We were also disappointed to see that fly tipping on the snicket entrance to the Cornlands Park – reported before Christmas – has still not been removed.

This despite a message from the Council saying that the matter had been closed on 30th December.

Elsewhere we have reported fly tipping and litter on the snickets which link The Reeves, Tithe Close and Tedder Road

Given the pressures on Council services at present, we would ask everyone to ensure that no litter is dropped and that all waste is kept in a secure location

Bleak mid winter picture for west York

A report on how York is fairing during the pandemic paints a mixed picture.

Unemployment numbers have soared to over 5000 with the highest percentage to be found in the Westfield ward where 540 (6.1%) are now out of work.

Front Street regeneration delays

This includes 120 young people aged between 16 and 24.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this has led to several attempts to establish new businesses in the area

There is a major disappointment for the Front Street area where the much-anticipated economic regeneration review has been delayed again. The recent lockdown is blamed.

 It seems that the proposals aimed at revitalising the area will not now be available until next summer.

It is another reverse for the economically poorest part of the City, which has seen many formal and informal leisure facilities close in recent years.  

Background figures tracking the trend in economic activity in the City can be founds by clicking here

Figures for the City’s “visitor economy” can be found here click

For tourist numbers click here

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

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119 Thoresby Road York YO24 3EN

Part two, part single storey side extension to side to replace existing outbuildings, replacement fenestration and lean-to canopy to porch 

Ref. No: 20/02238/FUL 

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Fultons Foods 59 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LN

Change of use from retail (use class E) to tanning salon (sui generis) (retrospective) 

Ref. No: 20/02207/FUL 

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning online web site.http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received