PLANS to build a much-needed extension at a York pre-school have been refused by the council, despite the scheme attracting approval from conservationists and a Government minister.

Funfishers nursery, based at the back of the Fishergate school site, says it needs an extension to cope with an increase in demand that has left it with waiting lists.

Its current home was designed by York architect W H Brierley in the late 19th Century, and plans were submitted to create a new building on land currently used as a car park, which designers felt was sympathetic to the Grade II listed building.

Former children’s minister Robert Goodwill visited the site last year and wrote a letter of support for the plan, but City of York Council’s planning officers felt the current design was unsuitable for approval, due mainly to a "broken ridge" roof design, and an intentional lack of symmetry between each side of the building.

The vote saw four in favour and four object, with chair Cllr John Galvin casting the deciding vote to refuse planning permission.

Cllr Dave Taylor told the meeting he supported the project after seeing the plans, as he believed they were in keeping with the listed building’s design.

Speaking after the refusal, Cllr Taylor said: “I’m disappointed. I think unless we have a head which can look in two different directions to see the two elevations, I don’t see it as an issue at all.”

The council heard some changes to the current plans could bring the design in line with what officers would accept, and would not likely be difficult or expensive, but Ms Leeman said she had already made changes to the design in the run up to reaching the planning application stage, and “it’s not the conservation officer’s duty to redesign someone’s building”.

Stephanie Leeman, architect who designed the new building, said "architecture by its very nature is subjective and it is very sad that on balance the public gain was not deemed sufficient to outweigh the conservation officer's issues" with the design.

She said: "We fully intend to go to appeal on this matter, although this will just delay works even further.

"It was suggested that we should make a compromise, how much further does one have to go? This is the fourth scheme for consideration and quite frankly when you have the backing of the York Civic Trust and Conservation Area Advisory Panel, I am really at a loss as to why we should allow a temporary Conservation Officer redesign our building - that is not his role."