ONE of York's most notorious eyesores is set to be transformed through a major re-development.

Plans have been unveiled to remove 1960s concrete from the lower floors of Stonebow House and create 20 luxury apartments on the upper floors.

"Space will be opened up and the building will be fully refurbished for modern commercial use," said a spokesman for the Wetherby-based Oakgate Group, which has submitted the proposals to City of York Council.

"There will also be approximately 31,500 sq.ft of retail and leisure space, including shops, cafes and restaurants. The current tenants, including Heron Foods and Corals Bookmakers, will be moving out."

He confirmed that The Duchess, a large club venue for rock, soul and indie music gigs, will also have to leave.

Duchess owner Matty Tunstall was not available for comment but the Hyena Lounge Comedy Club, which is regularly staged at the Duchess, will hold its last show there on Saturday June 4, said promoter Toby Jones.

"It’s been a great venue for us to put comedy shows on," he said. "The laughter really bounces off the walls, everyone can get a comfy seat at a table and the bar is cheap as chips!"

He claimed there was no reason why the The Duchess couldn’t remain, with a new entrance around the back and asked: "Does York need more flats and chained restaurants or does it need arts and culture?

"In truth we find that for generations, York residents have been forced to go to Leeds to watch bands, opera, comedy etc and this doesn’t look like changing in the foreseeable future."

The Oakgate spokesman said the project would 'radically change the appearance of the 1960s brutalist building and enhance the eastern gateway to the city centre.'

He said Oakgate had bought the long leasehold from the joint LPA receivers of Brightsea SARL for an undisclosed sum.

Oakgate managing Richard France said: “This is a key gateway site into York City Centre. With the opening of the impressive new Hiscox building, the new boutique Moxy Hotel and the Hungate residential development progressing, it is the missing piece in the redevelopment jigsaw for this part of York.

“We will be keeping the structure, which is sound, but give it a new economic life by transforming the building’s appearance and internal space, thereby complimenting the regeneration of the Hungate area.

“Even at this early stage, there is a lot of interest from retailers and restaurant operators because of the new configuration of space and we expect to attract further significant investment, when the refurbishment works are complete."

The spokesman said Stonebow House was built in 1964, following York’s slum clearance programme, and designed by Wells, Hickman and Partners. "It has had a chequered history in the eyes of York residents and building experts and has often featured in worst building lists in the UK because of its imposing nature.

"It has been described by national architecture critics as “hideous” and “sheer visual misery”, and out of place within an historic urban setting.

If the planning application is approved, the renovations will take between 12-15 months to complete."

The Oakgate Group has regenerated other run-down buildings including Northern House in Rougier Street, Tanner Row Car Park in George Hudson Street in York and Harrogate House in Parliament Street, Harrogate.

The marketing agents for the retail part of the development are Lawrence Hannah of Blossom Street, York. The residential element will be handled by Hunters of York.