PLANS for a four-storey apartment block to be built next door to Carpet Right in York city centre look set to be given the green light.

Councillors on the planning committee have been asked to approve an application for the former Simon’s Auto Services garage in Mansfield Street to be demolished to make way for the block at a meeting on Thursday.

The proposals had originally been for a five-storey block of 14 flats but revised drawings show the top floor has been removed.

The application was submitted by the owner of Swift Fitness gym, Mark Allen, which is next door to the site. Permission has already been granted for a 100-bed four-storey block of student apartments at 11 Mansfield Street on the former Horwell Brothers site.

Planning documents say: “In line with much of the major redevelopment of this area, this proposal looks to reuse an existing developed site, and replace it with a new private residential scheme, helping to revive the area.”

The ground floor would be used for car and cycle parking, with flats on the upper floors. Police said cycle storage and access to the block must be secure as crimes committed in the area include people entering insecure apartment complexes and also bicycle theft.

A report to the planning committee says: “This part of Layerthorpe is in the city centre based on the 2018 Local Plan proposals map. As such regeneration of the area is desirable and the city has demonstrable housing need.”

The site backs on to Carpet Right car park. The store was named earlier this year as one of the 92 branches set to shut. The planning application will be discussed at a meeting at City of York Council at 4.30pm on Thursday.