YORK'S top heritage organisation has called on city planners to reject a scheme to covert part of an empty, fire-damaged pub into flats.

York Civic Trust says it backs community plans to save The Jubilee, on Balfour Street. And it has urged developer Tri-Core to work with the Jubilee Community Pub Campaign.

Council planning officers have recommended approving Tri-Core's latest revised plans to convert the top floor and part of the first floor of the pub into three flats, even though previous applications were rejected. The latest plans would see the ground floor kept as a pub, with a small function room on part of the first floor.

But in a formal objection, the civic trust says it does not believe the smaller pub that would be left would be sustainable.

It adds that the pub, which originally opened in 1897 and was named for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, is an 'historically important building and community asset'. And it points out that once the huge York Central site nearby is redeveloped, with up to 2,500 new homes, there will be a desperate need for a good pub.

The trust says it is 'greatly encouraged' by the Jubilee Community Pub campaign's plans to save the pub, which closed in 2016.

Dr Duncan Marks, the trust's civic society manager, said: "We would urge the applicant to explore such an opportunity and work with the local community."

Dr Marks said York had lost too many historic pubs. But there was a precedent for saving a pub, he pointed out.

Like The Jubilee, planning officers had recommended allowing The Carlton Tavern to be converted. But councillors blocked the plans on the grounds of a loss of a community asset.

"York Civic Trust seeks the support of CYC’s Planning Committee for a similar outcome for The Jubilee," Dr Marks said.

The application is due to come before planners tomorrow - although The Press understands it is likely to be deferred. In a statement last week, developer Tri-Core said: "The application has been amended as per the inspectors comments. The planning case officer has recommended approval. We look forward to bringing the building back into use."