York Theatre Royal expansion plan is scrutinised (From York Press)

York Theatre Royal expansion plan is scrutinised

8:21am Monday 19th July 2010 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

York Theatre Royal: hoping to expand into the nearby De Grey rooms

COUNCILLORS are to take a closer look at plans to expand York’s Theatre Royal.

The plans seek permission for the theatre to expand into the De Grey Rooms, in St Leonard’s Place.

The application states the new space would be used for a theatre workshop, rehearsal space, costume making, hire and storage spaces.

After looking into the report, councillors decided to defer the decision until a site visit could be undertaken, as most of the site alterations would be made inside the building.

Also on the agenda at a council planning meeting on Thursday were plans from the Luxury Ice-Cream Company, in Back Swinegate, York, to form a seating area with three tables in the street outside the store.

The plans were approved unanimously by the committee, which also decided to remove a condition in the application which stated the area, which would seat ten, would be for a temporary period of two years.

As the seating would be on a public highway, the company would need to apply annually for a licence to retain the area, which the sub-committee felt would be more acceptable.

“Since I opened in April there have been times when customers have been queuing outside and sitting on the street to enjoy our ice-cream,” said owner Dawn Argyle.

“We have a lot of really nice customers who have said it would be nice to have a seating area out here. It’s absolutely brilliant, I’m totally delighted with the decision.”