PLANS to turn a fancy dress shop in York into a home for students are to be scrutinised by councillors following concerns from residents.

Justin Heaven, who runs Fantasy World in Main Street, Fulford, is planning to relocate the business, which has been running since 1974, to new premises and make the building a nine-bedroom house of multiple occupation.

But the proposals will now go before City of York Council’s east area planning sub-committee after people living nearby and the local parish council aired worries about access and parking.

Fulford councillor Keith Aspden, said: “The area is very compact and trying to accommodate the parking and access needs seems to be a step too far.

“We need to think very carefully not only about the transformation of the shop itself, but also the impact on the surrounding area.”

Mr Heaven said the scheme would allow the building to be restored to its original appearance and he had revised his original plans for an 11-bedroom house.

He also said the students who would live there would be more likely to use bikes rather than cars and the scheme was the only viable alternative other than turning it into flats.