Property specialist Helmsley Group has been given the green light to convert disused upper floors for city living in York.
The project will see six apartments created at the grade II-listed 24-25 High Ousegate, accessed via a new staircase at 9 Coppergate, and will allow the historically sensitive reinstatement of residential use to the upper floors of the building, currently used only for retail storage.
24-25 High Ousegate, the building currently leased by the Card Factory, can primarily be dated to the 19th century as an original example of a purpose-built commercial property on the ground floor and residential space on the upper floors.
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 and will “aid in creating a viable use for the heritage asset”.
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.”
Helmsley Group also 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.”