Agenda item

(i)           Conversion of building to form 7no. apartments and 1no. studios with redevelopment of land to rear to include erection of detached three storey building to create 5no. apartments and 3no. studios (16 units in total) with external alterations including dormer window to front of main dwelling and associated landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage.

(ii)         Listed Building Consent in relation to internal and external alterations to convert building to form 7no. apartments and 1no. studios including dormer window to front and part demolition [Micklegate]

Members considered a full application from York City Apartments Ltd. for the conversion of a building to form 7no. apartments and 1no. studios with redevelopment of land to the rear to include the erection of detached three storey building to create 5no. apartments and 3no. studios (16 units in total) with external alterations including dormer window to the front of the main dwelling and associated landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage.  In addition, Listed Building Consent in relation to internal and external alterations to convert building to form 7no. apartments and 1no. studios including dormer window to front and part demolition.

Officers gave a presentation based upon the slides at pages 113 to 125 of the Agenda and provided an update which had been circulated via email prior to the meeting, reporting the following amendment to paragraph 1.4 of the officers report:

1.4 Additionally, the lower ground floor windows in the front elevation of the building at partly street level will be reinstated and railings installed in front of the windows, as well as the reinstatement of the pavement lights on Blossom Street.

Mr Graeme Holbeck, Agent for Applicant, O’Neill Associates, explained that the former Working Men’s Club on Blossom Street had been vacant for around 18 months, following a vote taken by its members to close the venue in September 2018 due to dwindling membership numbers.  The proposed development offered the opportunity to: return the Grade II listed properties to their original residential use; deliver 16 new flats on a brownfield site in close proximity to the city centre and offer low cost homes and a contribution to affordable housing provision in the city of £54,000. 

Mark Andrews, Architect, Vincent & Brown, explained that he had worked closely with the council’s conservation team to develop a sensitive approach to incorporating the new dwellings,

stripping away unsympathetic additions and re?instating key elements that had been lost.  The construction would work towards meeting the climate change policies within the emerging local plan, taking a fabric?first approach to achieving carbon and energy reductions.

In response to questions from Members, officers:

·        confirmed that the property had met the criteria for the vacant building credit, which is determined by the relevant Local Authority, and would therefore not be required to meet the 20% affordable housing criteria; and

·        explained the test for policy HW1 as referred to at paragraph 5.13 of the officers.

After debate, Cllr Galvin moved, and Cllr Orrell seconded, that the application be approved, in accordance with the officer recommendation with the addition of an informative seeking to encourage additional cycle parking spaces and provision for electric bike charge points.  Cllrs: Craghill, Cullwick, Fisher, Galvin, Orrell, Waudby and Hollyer all voted in favour of this motion.  Cllrs: Crawshaw, Melly, Perrett and Webb voted against this motion and the motion was declared CARRIED.  It was therefore:

Resolved:            That the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions listed in the report and an additional informative:

Additional Informative 11

The developer is encouraged to add further additional cycle parking spaces and uncovered visitor cycle parking as well as provision for electrical bike charging points.

Reason:               To encourage sustainable travel.

A further motion was proposed to approve the Listed Building Consent, 19/01589/LBC, in relation to internal and external alterations to convert building to form 7no. apartments and 1no. studios including dormer window to front and part demolition.  Cllrs: Craghill, Cullwick, Fisher, Galvin, Orrell, Waudby and Hollyer all voted in favour of this motion.  Cllrs: Crawshaw, Melly, Perrett and Webb voted against this motion and the motion was declared CARRIED.  It was therefore:

Resolved:            That Listed Building Consent be APPROVED.