Changes planned for ‘undesirable’ York shop on ‘traffic dominated’ street

There are changes planned to a long-empty York shop in the hope to find a new tenant.

Number 17 Coppergate used to be home to the Al Fresco sandwich shop, but has been vacant for some time.

Now an application is in to repair the property and replace the front with “a subtle, contemporary design of broader appeal”.

The applicant, York consultancy Blinch UK, says the property has failed to let as a retail unit “despite extensive marketing”.

Reasons included the small size of the unit, the shop’s appearance, and its location which is “significantly less desirable than other, more centrally located, alternatives”.

And Coppergate itself is seen as a disadvantage.

“Coppergate continues to be limited by the legacy of traffic domination and narrow footpaths which are not conducive to a positive retail experience,” the application states.

It goes on: “The existing property has limited viability as a retail unit and is deteriorating through the absence of a tenant.

“Coppergate is a secondary retail street which has always suffered in terms of quality of environment when compared to the pedestrian central shopping area.”

They want to market it not just as a shop but more widely – “but the constraint of the poor shopfront will not appeal to uses outside retail or small food and drink outlets as demonstrated by the long period of vacancy.

“The proposed changes will better relate this gabled frontage to the character of Coppergate whilst broadening the appeal to occupants through a more adaptable, subtly contemporary, design.”

You can read more about the application here.