Looks like we are down to only two empty retail units on Acomb Front Street.
Latest shop to announce its arrival is “Hop and Glory”
There have also been several applications to convert the empty space above shops into residential accommodation over the last year.
Still a long way to go, but the signs of regeneration are growing
Cllr Sue Hunter, Liberal Democrat councillor for Westfield, is calling on the Council to ensure progress is maintained on the regeneration of the Front Street area.
Cllr Hunter recently joined with Cllr Johnny Hayes, Chair of Indie York, for small independent businesses in the city, to discuss how Acomb can be regenerated.
According to data recently released by the Local Data Company, more empty shops in Acomb have now comeback into commercial use, underlining the economic importance and opportunity to reinvigorate the Front Street.
In response to these calls, the Council has acknowledged the need to continue with a clear programme of proposals and the work to identify such proposals is now underway. Some suggested proposals put forward Cllr Hunter include:
Cllr Sue Hunter, Liberal Democrat ward councillor for Westfield, said:
“As a local councillor and business owner in the area, I fully recognise the potential of the Front Street as a place to do business in York.”
“It is pleasing to know that the Council has recognised the need for a clear programme of proposals for Front Street but more can be done. I look forward to work commencing on this I strongly urge the Council to begin work on local economic improvements as soon as possible.”
“With the recent news that more empty shops are now being used in Acomb, the Council should move forward to capitalise on the opportunities the Front Street area holds.”
There are fewer empty shop units on Front Street compared to 3 years ago (above)
The York Council recently announced that it will invest in the Front Street area and the expectation is that experts will recommend a way forward. Although the shopping area has had a boost over recent years, with the Acomb Alive traders organisation holding a series of events, many feel that a change to the physical layout of the precinct will be necessary to tempt larger numbers of shoppers back to the village.
A monthly street market has been very popular and it is hoped to build on its success.
The next market is being held on Saturday 24th June.
Responding to a door to door survey, recently launched in the Hamilton Drive and St Stephens Road areas by the Westfield ward Councillors team, residents have already indicated how often they use services on the Front Street area.
The majority have said that they frequently use the supermarket, local shops and the bank/post office facilities.
Residents are also being asked to rate several potential improvements. These include:
The hope is that the survey will prompt some original thinking by both residents and commercial users in the area.
A public meeting has been scheduled to take place, on 12th July at 6:30pm in the Gateway Centre, to discuss how the Front St area can be regenerated.
Sanderson House faces rates hike
Further detail has emerged of the new Business Rates that will be payable in Acomb and elsewhere in the City.
Generally, valuations have increased by around 10% although there are very wide variations.
This means that most shopkeepers in the area will pay more than they currently do when the valuations are introduced next year.
Examples of valuations – which can be found on the government web site by clicking here – are shown in the table below.
The figures quoted do not indicate the actual amount which is paid. A multiplier – which changes each year – is applied get the actual amount to be paid.
Still there are some shockers on the list not least the huge hikes in rates for the Community Centres in Chapelfields (+50%) and Foxwood (+17%). Charities do get relief on their rate payments but the changes are difficult to understand against a background where some businesses, like Ladbrokes bookmakers, will enjoy reductions of around 7%.
Elsewhere Liberal Democrat Councillor Sue Hunter has backed the idea of a new investment scheme for Front Street and called on the council “to give Acomb the support it deserves”.
A recommendation for a “wider renewal and reinvigoration scheme” was agreed by York’s Executive Member for Transport & Planning at a meeting yesterday in response to petitions presented by Lib Dem councillors in Acomb and Foxwood.
Over the summer, Cllr Sue Hunter organised a petition signed by over 800 residents calling for action to fix pavements in Front Street to help those who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and support the local shopping area. Meanwhile, Cllr Sheena Jackson organised a petition calling for improvements to the pavements around Foxwood Shops.
In response to the petitions, it was agreed that standard repairs will continue and that further work is carried out to appraise the possibilities for a wider renewal and reinvigoration scheme for both locations and a report prepared for the Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement. (more…)
Events from 5 October to 1 December
In July 1917, Siegfried Sassoon wrote an open letter to the Times protesting about the conduct of the war. What happened next is the subject of Pat Barker’s book Regeneration which will be our Big City Read for this year.
York Libraries are giving away 5,000 free copies of Regeneration over October and November and asking readers to immerse themselves in the world of 100 years ago.
click for summary
“We have put together a fantastic programme of events, together with our partners in the city, which offers something for everyone.
We are delighted to be welcoming Pat Barker to both launch and conclude the Big City Read at York Explore.
You can download the programme here Big City Read 2016 Events, and find details of Big City Read events in our What’s On listing. Copies of the programme will be available from 6 September at all York Libraries and other outlets in York.
You can collect your free copy of Regeneration from any Explore Library from 6 October while stocks last.
Events can be booked from 1 September either in person at any library in York or by phone, (01904) 552828 or (01904) 552651.
We advise booking in advance for all of our events, if applicable, to make sure of a place.
Read, Enjoy, Discuss, Share”
The report on plans to devolve responsibility for economic development activities, in the Acomb Front Street area, to local residents and traders has been published
It confirms that, of a £30,000 investment promised by the Council in 2013, only £13000 has actually been invested.
The balance of £17,000 may now be allocated to the Acomb Alive group.
However, these are derisory sums and will do little to redeem the regeneration project promised for the area by local Councillors when seeking election last year.
Major investment is required in the streetscape and a full time coordinator will be required if the many private sector owners are to become involved in the project.
A budget of least £250,000 will be required each year.
By comparison, the City centre partner (Make it York) has a budget of over £600,000 a year while even Monks Cross will get £1 million a year from the Council to fund a leisure development there.
Two years ago the then Labour controlled Council ditched plans to create a retirement village in Acomb on land at Lowfields school
The funding was transferred to a similar project at Burnholme school on the other side fo the City.
The land at Lowfields – and a similar plot next to the library – remain unused adding to the general atmosphere of neglect in the area.
Vandalised cycle stands in Front Street
The decision is due to be made at a meeting taking place on 12th April
The plan is likely to be welcomed by many living and working in Westfield and Acomb who feel that the area has been snubbed in recent years both by the Council and local economic development partners like “Make it York”.
The Front Street neighbourhood badly needs a regeneration intiative and local businesses and residents do have a key role to play in any improvement activity.
Residents are working to improve the appearance of the area
Occupancy levels of shops have improved with the economic recovery but too many new businesses seem to flounder within their first couple of years of operation.
Ideas like the establishment of an occasional street market have come to nothing while local Councillors have had to resort to collecting petitions aimed at getting local footpaths repaired.
The scale of any investment which may be on offer is not known and any regeneration project will need at least one full time management post over at least 3 years.
The pace at which the regeneration of the Piccadilly area of York – now dubbed the “Southern Gateway” – will take place will be decided by the Council’s Executive today. A report from Council officials talks of establishing a blueprint for the general development of the area.
As we said three months ago, the brownfield site offers a major opportunity to provide additional housing in what has become a very popular destination for new home owners. Even high value properties in Hungate and St Leonards Place are selling like hot cakes.
It is estimated that at least 450 new homes could be provided on the Piccadilly site.
Today’s report offers little that is new. “Partners” will be sought to redevelop the old airspeed factory, a project manager will be appointed and taxpayers will be asked to spend £185,000 on further developing the plans.
Potholes on Castle car park
Officials are recommending that the Council work closely with developers who have already worked up plans for some of the individual sites in the area.
The Council itself owns the busiest car park (Castle). The car park generates over £2 million a year in revenue – although it currently is in very poor condition. The Council also runs Castle Mills and the St Georges Field car parks.
One option to be considered is an underground replacement.
It is also known that there is a strong preference to make major changes to Ryedale House which could become a major residential development.
The Council seems set on slowing down (again) the pace of redevelopment.
Three months ago they had reached the stage where possible land uses had been identified.
These clearly did not fit in with the ambitions of the private landowners. Hence the decision to pull back..
With over £12 million sat in the bank the York Councils housing revenue account has never been healthier.
Freed by the last government from the requirement for any “surplus” Council house rent income to be put in a national pot, the York Council is free to make its own decisions on priorities.
It is unlikely that tenants will wait much longer for a statement of intent from the new coalition rulers at the York Council. The 4 month forward programme of topics, likely to be debated by the Council’s new Executive, was published yesterday. It noticeably fails to include any reference to estate regeneration plans.
Most estates are affected by neglect.
Foxwood tenants have been asking for better parking for several years and this is a demand repeated elsewhere in the City.
Lack of storage space for flat dwellers is another issue particularly for those who have families.
In Chapelfields the need for more parking space is now critical while the state of two of the three garage areas is shocking (see below).
Poorly maintained garages on Chapelfields Road
Detritus on access footpaths
Neglected garage site on Marston Avenue 1
Neglected garage area on Marston Avenue 2
11-15 Front Street
The Labour Cabinet came under fire earlier in the month when it nodded through a proposal to give 50% Rates relief to any empty property in the “Acomb” area that was brought back into use.
Now the Councils list of empty retail (and commercial) properties in the YO24 and YO26 area has been published.
The list reveals that the main “problem” property (which is also very prominent) is 11 – 15 Front Street (part of which was formerly occupied by Superdrug). We understand that the property was sold be the Coop Bank a couple of years ago and is now understood to be back on the market.
Many will feel that this site needs redeveloping although what Rates discount would apply to new properties remains unclear.
As we have said before, there is a good case for improving on the government scheme which gives a Rates discount on re-occupied properties which have been empty for more than 12 months.
However if discounts apply from day one then this could rightly be regarded as unfair competition by existing traders.
It was pointed out at the time, that the area of benefit was ill defined and – if it was intended to boost the Front Street area – then it needed to be focussed on longer term empty properties.
With the recession now ending it appeared that most shops had either been occupied or were under offer. Some prime sites are now understood to be changing hands at a premium.
The LibDems submitted the following comments to the meeting earlier in the month
The Liberal Democrat Group was disappointed that the Labour Cabinet did not support a comprehensive regeneration proposal for Front Street at July’s full Council.
This proposal, which uses powers given to Councils by the Coalition Government, seems to have been cobbled together in a rush – as the rewrites in the paper published on the council website indicate. Key details such as which exact area the discount will apply within are missing (the council papers refer only to “Acomb”). The paper does not explain why the scheme is restricted to retail premises (the similar Government scheme refers to all businesses) and it does not explain how temporary ‘pop-up’ units will affect entitlements.
We would also like further information on how the process will work given the September deadline for applications. The concern that the discount could be used by national chains, moving into prime sites immediately as leases become available, is not addressed and no alternative proposals are considered e.g. focusing discounts on properties which have been empty for over 3 months (business rates are not payable on a commercial property for the first 3 months that it is empty).
The Council needs to act promptly to clear u the confusion caused by its decision
