New pictures emerge of building to replace Fibbers – as York office availability falls to ‘all-time low’

This is one of two new images of the office block set to be built on Toft Green when Fibbers is demolished.

We revealed in November that the four-storey block, complete with first-floor roof garden, was planned by developers North Star.

Now its full planning application has been submitted to City of York Council. And it includes an analysis of York’s office market by Lawrence Hannah Property Consultants, which says:

• Overall current availability and stock we are suggesting is at an all-time low, certainly in our opinion at its lowest point for the last 25 years.

  Central stock, within the City walls and fringes, is limited to only a handful of options for good quality purpose built office accommodation, principally in the sub-5,000 sq ft (464.52 sq m) sector.

  There is currently no availability for office stock for a single occupier in one location in excess of 7,500 sq ft (696.77 sq m) within the traditional City core that could reasonably be occupied within the next 3-6 months.

Music venue options

A spokesman for developers North Star said: “This development will create much needed new offices, supports the council’s aspiration to attract high quality jobs to the city, and help tackle the chronic lack of grade A office space in the city centre.

“It will add to the renaissance that has taken place in this area over recent years.”

In November we reported that North Star proposed to create a 400-capacity music venue as part of its Rougier Street ‘Roman Quarter’ development.

The spokesman said: “We are working with councillors and the York Music Venue Network on various options for new music venues in the city centre.”

Positive feedback

Developers want to turn the site – which was also home to Bierkeller bar and gentlemen’s club Black Orchid – into a 16,500 sq ft grade A office building.

A consultation was held for people to have their say on the plans – including an open event and feedback forms.
The planning application says more than 40 people attended the workshop and 12 feedback forms were received.

It says: “The general tone of the feedback was positive and the vast majority of people that have commented so far can see the benefits of the redevelopment of this site into new high quality offices.”

The new Hudson Quarter development opposite the site is set to create a new route between Toft Green and the railway station.

And the planning application says the offices will complement next door Grade I-listed Micklegate House.