An empty York bar could be set for a new lease of life as a shop and flats under new plans.
An application lodged with York Council would see the ground floor of the former Vahe Bar, in Goodramgate, turned into a shop.
Two flats with two bedrooms each would be on the first floor if Vahe Nersessian’s plans are approved.
It’s the second such planning application for the property. A previous application to turn it into a shop with flats above was submitted last May – but then withdrawn in July.
The new plans say the conversion would significantly improve the existing first floor and would not cause unnacceptable harm to the Grade II-listed building.
The building at 31-33 Goodramgate is thought to date from the 15th century. It was originally built as a home and went on to be altered in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The building was home to a number of shops in the 2000s before its conversion to a venue trading as Kokos International Bar was approved in 2006.
It rebranded as Vahe Bar in 2012.
Plans stated the building was of special architectural interest in York’s historic conservation area.
The plans stated: “The building exhibits a strong capacity for change, given its history of alterations and the presence of incongruous additions.
“This underscores the need for sensitive intervention, allowing modern requirements to be accommodated without compromising heritage significance.”
You can read and comment on the planning application here.
