AMBITIOUS plans to redevelop Coney Street and York’s riverfront have received a boost with approval to convert the upper floors of a former bank and travel agency into flats.

This is despite City of York Council planning staff expressing ‘concerns’ about their size and lighting.

The Helmsley Group bought the former Bank of Scotland and Thomas Cook at Nessgate last summer and it plans to convert their former offices into 15 flats, with a restaurant/café downstairs.

The site has twice previously received approval for 16 and then 18 flats on the site, but the latest plans submitted in April saw the designs reconfigured and the flats made bigger.

Approval for the café/restaurant was given in 2018.

A council report, recommending approval for the latest plans, noted the building was not listed but it was within the Central Historic Core conservation area.

The Guildhall Planning Panel felt the flats would be too small for residential use, but the Conservation Area Advisory Panel said it would be pleased to see the building back in use, especially with the upper floors as flats.

The report said officers had reviewed the floorplans and drawing of the revised layouts, noting all habitable rooms in flats 1-13 have windows but said flats 14 and 15 do not have windows or existing rooflights.

Normally, this would prevent approval such a scheme, but the building benefits from an extant planning permission. Thus, officers concluded approval could be given if the other habitable rooms have rooflights installed before they are occupied.

It continued: “Officers have concerns about the overall quality of accommodation for flats 14 and 15 as they have no outlook, are small and are in the roof space with areas with sloping ceilings and not full height standing room.

“Flat 13 has a poor layout with sleep deck within a kitchen/living space in the third floor with sloping ceilings. However, the GPDO (General Permitted Development Order) does not permit proposals to be refused on the grounds of lack of outlook, and only requires ‘adequate natural light’ to be provided.”

Max Reeves, development director at Helmsley Group, said: “We’re very pleased that City of York Council has approved our revised planning application for our The Coach House development, which is reflective of our continued collaborative relationship with both the council and other city stakeholders.

“The Coach House is a fantastic example of our commitment to ‘build back better’ and regenerate within York, as demonstrated by our ongoing investment in Coney Street and other key areas of the city.”

Last summer, the Helmsley Group announced plans for a ‘Riverside Quarter’ featuring a riverside walkway and bridge across the Ouse close to Coney Street.

It has since been buying up further properties in the area and is working with City of York Council to help make the major regeneration scheme happen.