£5m library to be built in York
Arts, craft and study spaces, including specialist IT teaching, will be provided for local groups within the new library
York is set to build a £5m library after a report recommended councillors grant planning approval.
The Clifton Explore community hub would be created on the Clifton Without County Junior School site in Rawcliffe Drive, which was last used in 2011.
It would replace the 50-year-old Clifton Library some 500 metres away, which is not considered suitable for redevelopment.
The central 1932 Neo Georgian style block of the school would be retained, along with a more recent extension, with the remainder demolished and replaced with a new part single, part two-storey block – including a cafe. There would be 26 car parking spaces provided.
A series of arts, craft and study spaces, including specialist IT teaching, would be provided for local groups and a nursery and after-school club would occupy part of the building. Office space would also be available for home tuition service staff.
The hub will also house a children’s disability charity
Earlier this year, City of York Council, which is behind the scheme, said the hub would also house The Snappy Trust, a children’s disability charity, York Learning, a council adult learning service and Accessible Arts and Media, an arts charity.
The library, which would be accessed from Rawcliffe Lane, will not take up the whole site, so the council has also laid out initial plans for around 25 homes adjoining the Fairway as part of the same planning application.
The council said in January of this year that the housing would be 100 per cent affordable and low carbon.
The application has attracted just one letter in support, but 45 in objection, with concern focusing on the impact of the housing.
In particular, residents are objecting to any loss of hedge fronting onto the Fairway.
Clifton Without Parish Council has objected for this reason and due to planned pedestrian and cycle access through the site to the Fairway.
Council planners said the housing proposal was still at the outline stage and detailed plans would be worked up in time for the reserved matters application.
The proposal also envisages additional hedge planting to the south of the proposed library.