YORK’S new business start-up and social space in a shipping container complex in Piccadilly will feature a microbrewery, a director has revealed.

Beer lovers will be able to attend a workshop in one of the converted containers at Spark: York and then brew their own beer - which might ultimately be sold in a bar elsewhere on the site, said Joe Gardham.

He said food sold at units on the site would include crepes, fried chicken, pizza and vegan items, and there would be a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ cafe, which would sell food created from rescued fruit and vegetables which would otherwise have been discarded by supermarkets.

He was speaking yesterday as the complex on the derelict former Reynards Garage site began to take shape and as passers-by spoke of their concern at the appearance - thus far - of the containers.

One local resident, Nigel Armitage, said he was "horrified" by what he had seen so far. “It looks like a scrapyard,” he said.

Mr Gardham said a huge amount of work would be done before Spark:York was ready to open for business, hopefully in October, and he hoped to win many critics over in time.

He said up to 20 artists would descend later this month to decorate the containers with everything from landscapes to sculptures and graffiti art on the interior, while there would be timber cladding on the exterior facing the street.

He said the development aimed to help particular sectors of the York community, such as families on low incomes, older people at risk of social isolation and people with additional needs.

He said pensioners would be able to come and meet up to chat over free cups of tea and games, while children would be able to come along to a ‘family space’ and take part in free activities such as arts and crafts, and magic.

In a community garden area, herbs and edible plants such as coriander and basil would be grown in planters, which would be available for use by the food outlets and the public.

There would be an exhibition space and offices with training facilities for people starting out in business and street artist Harriet Wood, whose street name is Miss Hazard, had already painted a mural at the heart of the community hub.

He said all tenants would sign up to giving something back in social benefits, for example through offering training and mentoring, giving a percentage of their profits or employing someone with a marginalised background.

He said a tenant had been found for every unit, with a mixture of new and established businesses. About 50 per cent would be start-ups, 35-40 per cent would be existing businesses which would be scaling up and about 10 per cent were well established businesses.

He said the complex would not open for business until all the units were ready, with no piecemeal opening, and he hoped this would be in October but he had no guaranteed opening date.

Mr Gardham said he understood that not everyone would like the appearance of Spark:York, but ultimately it only had planning permission for three years and then it would be gone, probably replaced by a hotel.