Barbican’s revamp ‘OK’ (From York Press)

Barbican’s revamp ‘OK’

7:52am Thursday 24th May 2007 in

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FRESH plans for York's Barbican Centre look set to win the go-ahead next week, despite strong objections from campaigners.

If planners approve the proposals, owners Absolute Leisure will have only five months to complete a multi-million pound refurbishment of the auditorium and construct new bars and restaurants in time for the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, in November.

However, The Press reported yesterday the UK Snooker Tournament, due to be held at the Barbican in December, might be held at another venue amid fears that the centre might not be ready.

Organisers say they are keeping their options open and are in talks with other potential venues.

Absolute Leisure, which won permission for a refurbishment in 2004, submitted revised plans for the site late last year, including the enclosure of a roof garden, a redesign of the glazed curtain wall on the frontage and changes to the reception area.

The application failed to make it to a City of York Council planning committee last month, and will now be considered at a meeting next Wednesday.

A report from officers states objections have been made by the Fishergate Planning Panel, the York Georgian Society and the Save Our Barbican (SOB) campaign group.

SOB claimed the addition of a glass roof to the roof garden should be refused until an environmental impact assessment has been carried out, and claimed the magnifying effect of the glass would considerably aggravate light pollution from the venue.

It said permission would effectively create an additional floor to the already vast drinking area at the Barbican.

The report said objectors also claimed evacuation procedures would be a "recipe for disaster", as people previously were evacuated onto the roof and the paved area to the front, but these would now be enclosed in toughened glass.

Officers say they consider the design changes to be acceptable, and are not harmful to the conservation area, provided conditions are imposed.

They dismiss concerns about additional light pollution, saying it would not necessarily be any more significant than from an open terrace, which would have still required some form of lighting. "The amenities of nearby residents are unlikely to be materially affected by this new feature."

Absolute Leisure has said previously that, subject to the granting of planning permission, it is "fully intending to have the centre up and running this year".