Plans to turn an empty York building into a huge bookstore are in doubt today.
Topping & Company wants to transform the former Make It York building on Museum Street into the biggest independent bookshop in the UK.
It would be stocked with 75,000 books and attract one million visitors a year, the company says.
It has submitted an application to City of York Council for permission to make a series of internal alterations, including adding a mezzanine floor and new staircase.
But council officers are recommending this application is refused.
Number 1 Museum Street is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1860 as a register office.
The building has been empty for four years. Topping & Company wanted to open this autumn.
The York Civic Trust, York Conservation Areas Advisory Panel and York Conservation Trust have all supported the bookshop plans.
Council officers welcomed the proposed new use. But a report to next week’s planning committee states: “The proposed addition of the mezzanine and associated staircase would represent serious harm to the character of the building.
“The case made by the applicant is understood in that increasing the prospective capacity of the building sets reasonable objectives to maximise viability of the building within this use.
“However it is not considered that the harm to the fabric of the building is outweighed by such case.
“No financial details have been put forward to suggest that the development proposal, in the absence of the mezzanine’s formation, would amount to an unviable business proposal.”
They recommend that the plans are refused. The planning committee will meet to decide on the issue on Tuesday (15 July).
Topping & Company has organised a series of literary events in York this autumn. These are at external city venues, including Tempest Anderson Hall and the University of York.
You can find out more at the company website.