SPARK: York has been praised for helping to regenerate a “neglected” part of the city centre by a number of councillors - despite plans to insist that the structure is covered with timber cladding.

Members of the City of York Council planning committee were told that the site has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors since it opened in May, with the businesses inside the venue achieving “four or five” times more than they expected to, according to co-director Sam Leach.

And Cllr Andy D’Agorne said the scheme has helped “build confidence” in the Castle Gateway area.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr D’Agorne said: “I raised concerns about it detracting from encouraging further development - it’s quite the contrary. We’ve got planning applications coming thick and thin along Piccadilly and it seems to me that this is actually helping to build that confidence. This development is attracting people to that end of the city centre. It is actually helping major council objectives.”

Cllr Barbara Boyce said the venue has also given new business owners, who may not be able to afford other premises in York city centre, the opportunity to launch their ventures.

But councillors were divided on the appearance of the shipping containers, which have been decorated with artworks by street artists.

Cllr Mark Warters said: “I’m absolutely appalled, not just at the appearance of the shipping containers at Spark: York but also the flippant way it’s being discussed. Is that the future you want for your city? You will have to answer when this goes wrong.”

Members of the planning committee were divided on the issue with six councillors voting to approve the application and six councillors voting to refuse it.

Cllr Ann Reid, chair of the committee, had the casting vote and chose to refuse the application to vary the conditions.

She said: "I'm torn. One of the reasons I supported it in the first place was because it was going to have the cladding.

"My view is that actually it was that it needed the cladding to make it acceptable and I have to say I don't particularly like the art that's on the side."