Hotel set to be converted into homes on Mount Vale

Newington Hotel

The Newington Hotel on Mount Vale is set to be converted into 7 residential units. The plans, which will be considered by the Council at a meeting on 9^th June, include the erection of new town house adjacent to no. 147 and demolition of extensions to rear of hotel with associated works. These include 3 blocks of garages and alterations to car park and driveway to form an access and individual gardens. The plans are recommended for approval.

Nearby a plan to replace a bungalow with a two story house in Hob Moor Terrace is also recommended for approval. There have been objections to this proposal for neighbouring residents who are concerned about privacy issues.

Also set to get the nod are plans to provide a penthouse floor on top of the Hilary House building on St Saviourgate. The former government office block has already been converted into premium apartments and any penthouse is expected to market for a 7 figure sum.

Officials are also backing a plan to extend the Royal York Hotel which would see 45 additional bedrooms provided there.

Planning Committee to consider changes to Huntington Stadium

Derwenthorpe and Designer Outlet ice rink also on agenda

A planning committee meeting taking place on 8^th June will consider some significant changes to major projects in the City

Huntington Stadium

Stadium site

Amendments to the approved drawings including an increase in the height and length of the commercial development building with alterations to internal layout and an increase in cinema a (400 extra seats) and restaurant floor space; alterations to the internal layout of the East Stand and variations of permitted uses; alterations to the internal layout and permitted uses within the Leisure Centre.

“Be Independent” and York St John University would no longer occupy space and therefore a greater amount of floor space would be occupied by York NHS Trust.

The main objections to the changes have come from the owners of two of the other cinemas in the area. There is a strong implication that the future of these facilities may be in doubt if the new “super” screen gets the go ahead.

The changes will have to be referred to the Secretary of State for approval.

Unfortunately, this means more delays for a project that was “ready to go” as long ago as 2011.

Whether the new 2018 opening date for the Stadium will now be achieved remains to be seen.

York Council moves to legitimise Local Plan decision date

The latest Forward Plan -which indicates when key decisions are scheduled to be taken by the York Council – has been amended to include consideration of a new Draft Local Plan.

The Council has said that it will consider which sites will be allocated for new housing when its Executive meets on 30th June.

Residents were mystified when, last week, Councillors said discussion of the changes was imminent. No item had been placed on the Forward Plan and the Executive’s own agenda – which outlines the issues that will be considered at its subsequent two meetings – was also silent on the issue.

The Council has still not said when its Local Plan Working Group will meet. The all party group has not met since 30th November 2015. It would normally meet to discuss any draft proposals before forwarding them to the Executive for approval.

We understand that Council officials are briefing the owners of major sites in the City this month. They are being told what to expect when the Draft Plan is released next month.

Eyes will be on major sites like Clifton Gate (between Clifton Moor and Skelton) and Whinthorpe (Between Elvington and the A64) both of which have traditionally formed part of York’s Green Belt. If either (or both) were to be slated for development then huge amounts would need to be spend on infrastructure improvements. The former would require a dualled A1237, while the later would require a new access corridor because of existing transport congestion in the area. The source and scale of the funding required must be made clear in any Council decision.

It is little short of outrageous that vested interests will find out the fate of projects worth tens of millions of pounds before ordinary residents and taxpayers are even told when they will be able to first see the proposals.

New car dealership set to open in Poppleton

click to access

A development site that has been derelict for many years may now be developed as a new car dealership.

Planning permission has now been sought for the construction of a 1863 square metre car dealership building with ancillary servicing and valeting functions and external car parking.

The site is next to the East Coast railway line and the application will be considered by the York Planning committee on Thursday.

There have been problems on this industrial estate with inadequate car parking arrangement leading to safety issues.

More recently traveller caravans have appeared on an area near Great North Way & Rose Avenue

Clothes recycling unit set to be axed at Poppleton garden centre

Meanwhile an application to regularise the use of a portable unit, which is currently used to collect clothing for recycling, is being opposed by York Council officials. The unit is located in the car park of the Wyevale Garden Centre at Poppleton. Details of the application and the officers recommendations can be found by clicking here. The unit is being opposed on the ground that it is in the “Green Belt”.

NB. The Council, recently built a park and ride facility on adjacent green field land (which is much bigger and deeper into the Green Belt)

Harewood Whin – Waste activities set to continue to 2030

Entrance to Harewood Whin

Yorwaste the operators of the Harewood Whin waste site are seeking planning permission to extend some of their activities until 2030.

Two applications will be considered at a meeting taking place on 12^th May.

The first application seeks agreement to the expansion and continued use of a section of the site for composting. The proposal envisages the continuing use of the existing concrete composting pad, together with an associated extension of some 6,910 sq metres in area, up until December 2030.

The pad is used to store and turn compostable materials in linear masses or windrows for periods of 6 to 12 weeks at a time to make compost. The size of the pad allows for the processing of a maximum of 70,000 tonnes of material which would meet current expectations of demand over the application period.

The second application is for the construction of a waste transfer station. The facility will be used for the bulking up and transference of materials to be used in the proposed Allerton Park Waste Incinerator.

The applicant has agreed as part of the development proposal to contribute towards the provision of a cycle track along the Wetherby Road frontage and to unilaterally revoke an extant planning permission for a biomass plant on the site.

Both applications are recommended for approval

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

Proposals lodged to build 7 houses in back garden on Green Lane, Acomb

Plans to develop garden of 63 Green Lane

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

Plans for 7 houses on Green Lane click

Full details can be found by clicking the words highlighted in blue

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63 Green Lane Acomb York YO24 3DJ

Erection of no.7 dwellings

Ref. No: 16/00709/FUL

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NatWest 4 Odsal House Front Street York YO24 3BL

Change of use from financial/professional service (use class A2) to restaurant/café (Use class A3) and alterations including glazed shopfront

Ref. No: 16/00696/

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Address The Acomb Kingsway West York YO24 3BA

Reference 16/00601/ADV

Proposal Display of 2 no. internally illuminated signs (retrospective)

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

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

Poppleton trampoline centre set to get planning go ahead

Mega jump trampoline

A warehouse on the York’s Business Park at Nether Poppleton is set to become a trampoline centre with a café.

The site is located on Rose Way. It is was last occupied by US tech company Nanometrics which abandoned the site over a year ago.

The maximum number of trampoline users at one time would be 75, most sessions would be 1 to 1.5 hours in length and sessions would start every 15 mins. The proposed development would create 20 – 25 full time positions and 35 – 55 part time positions. There would also be a re-organisation of the car park to create 75 spaces.

The development is understood to be backed by David Lloyd who already runs a successful fitness centre in the City.

Trampoline parks have proved to be a massive success story in the US, which had about 40 such attractions in 2011. The number there has since ballooned to an estimated 300 either in operation or under construction.

The planning application is recommended for approval at a meeting taking place next Thursday

York Council indecision on new Chief Executive?

Indecision York seems likely to be without a permanent replacement for its Chief Executive for at least another 6 months.

Papers published for a meeting taking place on 1^st February reveal that a review of the Council’s management structure, commissioned last June, has apparently still not been concluded.

The report blames ongoing financial pressures for the delays, although the Chief Executives post has been filled on a temporary basis (at full salary) for over 6 months.

It now appears that the report on a new structure may now be available in March. A £150,000 a year saving on salary costs is being achieved from 1^st April by deleting a post dealing with “transformation and change”

Staff working in the Chief Executives Department are being transferred to other management groups suggesting that the Council may be thinking of abolishing the role of Chief Executive altogether.

The Council will, however, now move to appoint a permanent Director of Public Health on a salary of around £100,000.

The Council will also make a permanent appointment to the post of “City and Environmental Services”. Essentially this is the role formerly held by Bill Woolley who retired over three years ago. It is responsible for planning and transport policy. The post will also attract a pay level of around £100,000 pa. The Council says that to minimise recruitment costs this post will be “advertised externally on City of York Council Jobs Website and promoted through the Council social media channels”. Minimal advertising of vacancies is usually a tactic that a Council adopts when it has “someone in mind” for the post.

Recent events – including the Councils response to the flooding crisis – suggest that there is a lack of effective leadership in the authority. Taking over 12 months to find a permanent appointment for the post which is responsible for driving the administrative side of the Council is, at best, complacent and at worst negligent.

The York Council is now desperately short of experienced management capacity.

Councillors need to act quickly and decisively to fill the void.

Latest planning applications for the Acomb and Westfield Wards

Small extension to Energise Crèche proposed. Front Street shop to become café with flat above

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb

Location: 4 Jorvik Close York YO26 5HD

Proposal: Erection of two storey dwelling following demolition of single storey side extension

Ref No: 15/02825/FUL

Applicant: Mr & Mrs George & Karen Tindall & Peacock Contact: Mr Iain Robinson Consultation Expiry Date: 8 February 2016 Case Officer: Kevin O’Connell Expected Decision Level: DEL

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Westfield

Location: 1 Acomb Court Front Street York YO24 3BJ

Acomb Court application click to enlarge

The café replaces a gift shop. The flat replaces (empty) offices.

Proposal: Change of use from shop (use class A1) to cafe (use class A3) and change of use of first floor from office (use class B1) to residential flat (use class C3)

Ref No: 15/02949/FUL

Applicant: Mrs Chang Hsin Chih Consultation Expiry Date 8 February 2016 Case Officer: Victoria Bell Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location: Energise Cornlands Road York YO24 3DX

Energise application click to enlarge

Small 37 sq mtr extension to the crèche at front of building

Proposal: Single storey front extension

Ref No: 16/00008/GRG3

Applicant: City Of York Council Contact Property Services CYC Consultation Expiry Date 8 February 2016 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level COMM

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Location: 95 Queenswood Grove York YO24 4PN

Proposal: Two storey side and rear extensions and single storey rear extension

Ref No: 16/00024/FUL

Applicant: Mr Neil Massam Contact Mr Bob Marks Consultation Expiry Date 8 February 2016 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

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

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

Aviva York offices set to become 48 apartments

: Aviva offices to be converted into apartments?

Developers have submitted a planning application which, if approved, would see the Aviva insurance building on Rougier Street converted into 48 apartments. The office block was the home of the Yorkshire Insurance company for many years

There would be 10 two bedroomed flats and 38 three bedroomed apartments.

53 parking spaces would be provided.

The developer is seeking to take advantage of a recent concession in the law which allows commercial buildings to be converted into residential units without the need for “change of use” planning permission. The Local Authority though has still to determine detailed issues such a contamination, transport and flood risk.

Planning permission had previously been granted to turn the adjacent Roman House building into flats although this proposal subsequently stalled.

The ambitious plan confirms the burgeoning demand for city centre homes.

It may put more pressure on the Council to maximise the value of its, currently unused, office block adjacent to the Guildhall. Offices are currently scheduled to be built on that site, but some commentators believe residential use could bring in a higher return for taxpayers.

: Floorplan for planned Rougier Street apartment

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