The developer behind a bid to convert an empty live music venue in York into a café is to mount an appeal after the plans were blocked.
Nabeel Hanif said his scheme would keep the former Victoria Vaults building open for public use. This week City of York Council refused them on the grounds of protecting a community facility.
But planning committee chair Jonny Crawshaw said the refusal signalled venues like this had value beyond money and should only be sold for redevelopment as a last resort.
A council spokesperson said they made decisions based on a range of considerations and the ruling was fair and consistent with its policies.
Planning officers ruled the venue would have to stay on the market for a further five months to lease for £25,000-a-year or for sale between £360,000 and £390,000.
Officers ruled more time was needed to show that reopening it would be unviable, with the ground floor of the building currently listed for lease at £25,000-a-year by Barry Crux.
Victoria Vaults, which hosted acts including Bez from the Happy Mondays and Blondie drummer Clem Burke, closed in December 2024 after losing considerable sums of money, according to planning documents.
It was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) shortly after its closure but the status was later removed.
Plans to convert it into three homes have also been lodged by the same developer and are yet to be decided.
‘Refusal inconsistent’
Mr Hanif claimed the refusal of his plans was inconsistent with the council’s approval of an application to convert the Murton Arms, in Murton, into a café in April.
He also took issue with council Labour culture spokesperson and local Micklegate ward councillor Pete Kilbane’s objections to the plans.
He added assessments of its value as a community venue were contradictory and it being given council and government grants worth more than £108,000 a still closing showed it was unviable.
Mr Hanif said: “This is not a planning decision, it is the work of a council that has lost basic common sense.
“In 14 months they have listed Victoria Vaults as having community value, removed it from the register, and then refused planning permission for a café that provides community value in order to protect community value?
“I have no remaining confidence in its officers or its members, the Planning Inspectorate will now do the thinking the council appears incapable of.”
But Cllr Crawshaw, who is also a Labour ward councillor for Micklegate which is home to Victoria Vaults, said policies designed to protect community facilities and cultural venues had been appropriately applied.
The councillor said: “Too often, important buildings like this are marketed and sold at inflated prices assuming the building can simply be taken from the community.
“This refusal sends a clear signal that pubs, music venues and other such community spaces should never be one poor manager away from being lost and must only be marketed and sold for redevelopment when all other avenues have been exhausted.”
Cllr Jane Burton, also a Labour ward councillor for Micklegate, said she wanted to see the developer work with the community rather than fighting over the issue.
“We want to see them give the pub a chance to function and flourish under its current use as a live music venue,” said Cllr Burton.
“We cannot see changes of planning use seen simply as minor obstacles to be trodden over in the pursuit of making a quick buck.”
