THE upper floors of a building in a busy city centre street can be converted into six flats, says City of York Council.
And the scheme is part of wider plans to boost city centre home ownership through residential conversions, developers say.
The Helmsley Group has gained approval for the scheme at 24-25 High Ousegate, which is currently leased by Card Factory.
The scheme will see a new staircase erected at 9 Coppergate, giving access to the Grade II-listed 19th Century building.
It will also see the historically sensitive reinstatement of residential use to the upper floors of the building, currently used only for retail storage.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Card Factory in York shop could be turned into 6 apartments
- Helmsley Group says Coney Street plan to boost York by £175m
- Helmsley Group completes 48-bed Luna scheme at Tang Hall
The plans have been backed by York Civic Trust, which said it “welcomes a proposal which provides a sustainable use for the vacant upper floors of historic buildings in central York”.
Approving the plans, City of York Council planners said the proposals will have minimal impact on the “historic form” of the address.
They also concluded: “The proposal would aid in creating a viable use for the heritage asset whilst sustaining and enhancing its significance.”
The new Coppergate staircase will not only create a dedicated access route but will also repurpose the existing flat roof area at the site as a communal south facing courtyard for residents, a rare commodity in York city centre.
It is part of a wider strategy by Helmsley Group to boost much needed city centre home ownership through residential conversions across its portfolio. This includes neighbouring Coney Street, as part of its Coney Street Riverside vision, as well as schemes on Spurriergate, King’s Square and Goodramgate.
Tom Riddolls, development surveyor at Helmsley Group, said: “We are pleased that City of York Council has approved our conversion plans for 24-25 High Ousegate and that they have been supported by influential groups including York Civic Trust.
“We look forward to bringing this much needed and unused space back to life, returning the property to its originally intended use for the first time in more than a century.”
A related application to re-fit the ground floor and basement of the existing Card Factory “by a new retail tenant” has yet to be determined.
However, the Helmsley Group expects its plans for the redevelopment of the Coney Street area of York to be determined in the coming weeks.
Max Reeves, director at Helmsley Group, added: “This is an exciting time for Helmsley Group, with several projects moving forward at pace. Our project at 24-25 High Ousegate is another strong demonstration of our strong track record in sensitively repurposing buildings of historical significance in York city centre.
“As a long-established York-based business we are passionate about the ongoing success of the city and through our Coney Street Riverside masterplan, alongside projects such as this, we continue to work collaboratively to ensure York is a great place to live, work and visit.”
To find out more about Helmsley Group, visit: https://helmsley.co.uk/.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel