THE redevelopment of a riverside landmark in York has moved closer after new plans for the site were given the go-ahead.

Developers have won permission to carry out a major conversion of the listed Bonding Warehouse, which has been empty since 2000, in a scheme which could see part of the building turned into a restaurant.

City of York Council’s area planning sub-committee unanimously approved the plans by York-based Grantside Ltd, which bought the site next to Skeldergate Bridge last year, to turn its first floor into offices and create four apartments on its upper floors.

The new planning permission means the southern section of its ground floor can either become a restaurant or office space, while a new stair and lift tower, a partial new roof and a bridge linking the warehouse to Skeldergate would also be built.

Peter Callaghan, Grantside’s development director, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the decision, as we believe everybody would like to see the Bonding Warehouse reused and brought back to life.

“We will work hard to get on site as soon as possible. Now we have the planning permission, we have got timescales to work to and we can look at where the market is with regards to the site.”

Mr Callaghan said this assessment of the market would allow Grantside to decide whether the whole of the ground floor should be used for business space, or whether a restaurant could form part of the scheme.

The Bonding Warehouse, which dates from the 1870s, was turned into a restaurant and pub in the early 1980s, but this ended 13 years ago when it closed following regular flooding.

In a report, council planner Rachel Tyas said: “The building is an important component of the riverside environment and this scheme would appear to create a viable use for the building – it would remove dereliction and provide new life for this area.”

Committee member Coun Ian Gillies said he had asked Grantside to consider retaining The Bonding Warehouse name on the side of the building when it is redeveloped.