Spark’s bid to stay at its current site in Piccadilly for another five years has been approved.
The decision on Thursday, October 9 means the food, drinks and events venue will remain on its current site until 2030, ahead of a planned move to York Central.
Spark co-founder Sam Leach told councillors they had no control over when their future home would be ready, with an extension needed to avoid an abrupt closure costing 92 jobs.
But objectors told Thursday’s meeting neighbours faced the prospect of another five years of noise disturbing them despite being told the venue, which one branded a grotesque monstrosity, was temporary.
The decision by City of York Council’s planning committee decision comes as the venue’s existing permission to stay at its site expires this year.
Spark offers space in converted shipping containers for food and drink start ups along with events and meeting spaces.
It first opened in 2018 and its stay was last extended in 2022.
Plans from the venue stated its eventual move to York Central would now not be feasible until 2029 at the earliest.
Spark’s own estimates state it has supported around 65 fledgling businesses and around £5 million-a-year had been turned over there since it first launched.
Its application stated that 26 establishments which began life there have since moved into permanent premises.
Plans approved on Thursday prohibit amplified sound which exceeds background noise levels.
No amplified sound will be allowed after 10pm from Sunday to Thursday.
Councillors have also requested that the venue provides details of its sound management system to help monitor noise levels.
The meeting heard the venue works with neighbours when doing sound checks to try and ensure noise cannot be heard.
But Mr Leach said factors outside their control such as the direction of the wind could change sound levels.
A bid to host up to six live music events a year was dropped from the application ahead of Thursday’s hearing.
The meeting heard the events were not workable due to noise concerns.
Mixed response
Council planning officers recommended approving the plans ahead of their hearing on Thursday.
A total of 18 comments were lodged in support of the application, saying it was a valuable community venue that supported a variety of arts and campaigning groups alongside businesses.
But 12 objections were lodged, including from people living nearby, complaining about noise and smells from the venue as well as shipping containers being put in York’s historic city centre.
The council has received 11 historic complaints about noise from six different addresses since the venue opened, including two since its permission was last extended.
Cllr Tony Clarke, Labour councillor for Guildhall which includes Spark, said it played an important social and economic role in the city but it had not been a good neighbour.
David Chatfield, who lives close to the site, told councillors he understood the venue’s popularity but took issue with how long it had been allowed to stay.
The resident said: “If this was proposed permanently it wouldn’t have been approved right next to neighbouring properties.
“My concern is the impact on properties in neighbouring Nelson’s Yard, when they go out on their terraces they can almost reach across for a beer, they feel a part of Spark rather than outside it.”
Objector Matthew Laverack said putting shipping containers in a historic conservation area was manifestly unacceptable.
Mr Laverack said: “This is a monstrosity that is blighting the urban landscape and causing misery to residents.
“We were told the site would be clear by 2025 but here we are again.
“Every time it gets worse, we don’t need five more years of this, bring this nonsense to an end and finally rid Piccadilly of this grotesque aberration.”
Mr Leach, Spark’s deputy director, told councillors he strongly refuted the assertion that they had been bad neighbours, saying they had willingly engaged with residents including through a WhatsApp group.
He added they fully intended to move to York Central and had already delivered architectural drawings costing them thousands to its developers.
Mr Leach said: “I don’t believe there’s been an issue with noise, if there was there would be countless complaints. There’s people living nearby who were here before us who support us.
“It’s always a challenge being next to neighbours and there’s some who just don’t want us there for whatever reason and I respect that.
“Spark’s a York success story that’s grown into a nationally-recognised model of social enterprise, extending the permission for another five years means protecting jobs, nuturing enterprise and sustaining a project that delivers social and economic benefits.”
