A new store is set to open in York soon.
Plans are in to reconfigure a unit that has been empty since March – the former home of Evans Cycles on Julia Avenue in Huntington.
Work is already underway to upgrade the shop for a new tenant.
It has been taken over by Hammonds.
Leicestershire-based Hammonds specialises in fitted furniture, for bedrooms, home offices and living spaces.
Until now, its nearest showroom was in Sheffield, although Hammonds also had a concession inside Rodgers of York, also on Julia Avenue.
In its new store, Hammonds plans to create an additional mezzanine area, add block paving to improve disabled access and change the frontage.
A planning application submitted to City of York Council says: “While there is a very modest increase in floor area through the addition of a 15.5m area of mezzanine, and the loss of 1 parking space overall, these are not considered material and the application falls to be considered solely on the basis of the design, appearance and materials proposed.
“It is considered the proposed elevations, particularly the front elevation, are an improvement on the existing situation because the front elevation is better balanaced and provides additional glazing and therefore activity to the frontage.”
Evans Cycles moved out of the Julia Avenue unit in spring. At the time it said that it was “relocating to an exciting new plot in the city”.
That was said to be the Feasegate end of the former BHS store, taken over by Evans’ parent company Frasers Group.
That has long-since opened two other of its brands in the old BHS, Sports Direct and Flannels.
Evans was earmarked to move into the Feasegate unit as long ago as 2019.
But there is no sign yet of Evans Cycles opening there, although a sign says the property is now let.
