A UNUSUAL building with links to York’s past looks set to be converted into nine new homes and a neighbourhood cafe.

Plans have been submitted to City of York Council for a disused former children’s nursery at 79 Fulford Road, which would involve the re-positioning and retention of a facade of stone arches which once formed part of the entrance to York Theatre Royal.

Heritage campaigners raised concerns earlier this year after an application was made to demolish the arches, which were designed by John Harper in 1834 as part of the entrance to the theatre and were moved to their current home when the theatre was remodelled in 1879.

Developers said then they were checking out the legal position before pushing on with redevelopment plans.

The plan now is to dismantle the three arches and reposition two of them to abut neighbouring flats and further forward, to allow them to ‘form a prominent local landmark.’

Trinity Services Limited, who purchased the site in March, are proposing to create a small café below a small block of five flats, with a coach house at the rear of the site to be retained and converted to create four houses. There would also be landscaped parking courtyards.

A Design, Heritage and Access Statement by Higgs Young Architects says: “The proposed design and layout works within the existing context to repair the urban grain, to visually improve the streetscape on this prominent ‘gateway’ site into York and to regenerate the site and Fishergate local area.”

The Fishergate Planning Panel has written to the council to say it supports the principle of development and supports the style of architecture but believes a new road access from Fulford Road would be dangerous to other traffic and pedestrians, particularly the many primary school children who use the route.

Maxine Gordon and Nick Pears, of Howard Street, said they welcomed the retention of the coach houses as a local heritage asset but said the building extension would make their rear rooms significantly darker and impinge on their privacy.

David Liddell, of Howard Street, raised similar concerns and said the proposed development would also severely exacerbate parking and access problems in the area.

Janine Robinson, of Chelmsford Guest House in Fulford Road, also objected, saying the proposed driveway would take away two hotel car parking places.

Joanne Holt raised similar fears about the impact on her neighbouring guest house business and about a loss of light to the rear. However, another neighbour, Dr Karen Lee, welcomed the plans.