Temporary mixed-use venue at Spark York Piccadilly, York

The site and its surroundings

The venue contains small commercial units and outdoor space within a conservation area, surrounded by homes, businesses, a pub and Piccadilly.

“The venue comprises of multiple small commercial units and outside amenity space. The commercial units are occupied as a social hub / studios co-working space and multi-purpose event space, retail and food and drink outlets…”

“The site is within the Central Historic Core Conservation Area – Piccadilly Character Area. It is surrounded by residential and commercial uses, a public house with outside seating area, and the street Piccadilly.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions and future plans

The site has had temporary permissions since 2017, while longer-term council aspirations are for residential-led redevelopment.

“Application Reference Number: 25/01151/FUL Item No: 5b 1.4 The site is owned by the Council and the Spark venue has been subject to temporary permissions only since permission was first granted in 2017. Spark being a temporary use of the site until a permanent scheme is developed for the site. The Council’s aspirations in the medium to long-term are for residential lead redevelopment of the site.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the use policy-compliant, its economic and social benefits significant, and its conservation-area harm low and outweighed by public benefits.

“The Central Historic Core Conservation Area has 24 character areas. The site is within the Piccadilly Character Area. Within the area appraisal the overview to the Piccadilly Character Area explains the area and the justification for inclusion within the Central Historic Core Conservation Area as follows “Piccadilly was developed much later than the rest of the medieval city centre and has larger scale building plots, reflecting its industrial past.”

“The public benefits in favour of the scheme are the same as under the previous application for the site. The public benefits are both economic and social. As in determining previous schemes for the development; the benefits are deemed to outweigh the low level, non-permanent harm to the conservation area.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

Public Protection accepted continued use in principle but opposed unrestricted live or recorded music, while the planning panel objected to further temporary use.

“Further to this a noise report was commissioned with the original application “17/00274/FUL” which took measurements of the background noise levels at and around the site during the period when live and recorded music is proposed to be played. The report demonstrated that even if only acoustic music was played the noise levels from such an event would likely exceed acceptable noise limits at the nearest residential dwellings to the premises.”

“In summary Public Protection do not support the proposal for the performance of live and recorded music on the site. No objections in principle to the continued use of this site for its current use. Recommend conditions - - Cooking odours – a condition to approve details of the means of dealing with cooking odours. - A condition restricting times of construction (if applicable).”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Residents spoke against the application, a ward councillor described both community benefits and noise problems, and the applicant spoke in support.

The vote

The final proposal to approve with amended conditions passed with eight members in favour and three against.

“This was seconded by Cllr Ayre. Following a vote with eight Members voting in favour and three voting against it was:”

“Resolved: That the application be approved subject to: • The conditions in the report. • Amended Condition 3 for amplified music until 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm on Friday and Saturday for the lifetime of the development, the wording of which to be delegated to Officers and the Chair and Vice Chair.”

Minutes