York Italian restaurant La Piazza Antica changes blocked

An application to install a pergola in the courtyard of La Piazza Antica, in Goodramgate, has been refused by City of York Council planning officers.

The restaurant’s application stated the aluminium pergola would enhance the restaurant’s operations by sheltering its outdoor dining space.

But council planning officers stated the materials, appearance and scale of the structure was unsympathetic to the restaurant’s Grade I-listed building.

It comes after plans to install the pergola were lodged in July.

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The application stated it would allow its courtyard to be used throughout the year.

The restaurant’s home, 45, Goodramgate, is a Grade I-listed timber-framed Tudor building dating from the late 15th Century.

Plans stated the changes would respect the character of the building and the surrounding area.

The application stated: “In our view, the impact of the proposed interventions to the existing building are not affecting any of the valuable features of this beautiful, listed site and will not have a detrimental impact to the character of the area considering the location is not visible from the external road.

“They will only increase the functionality, without harming the aesthetics.”

An impression showing how the pergola at La Piazza Antica, in Goodramgate, York, could look (Image: La Piazza Antica)

But two objections were lodged to the plans, including one from the York Civic Trust which claimed the changes would cause serious harm.

Another claimed it would reduce visibility of the historic timber building.

Council planning officers ruled the proposals were unacceptable.

Officers said: “The proposed pergola would result in harm to the historic character of the building.

“It would form an incongruous and visually intrusive feature.”