York live music venue conversion plans refusal upheld

The Planning Inspectorate has upheld City of York Council’s decision to block plans to convert Victoria Vaults, in Nunnery Lane, into a café.

Cllr Pete Kilbane, the council’s Labour culture spokesperson, said the ruling was great news not only for Victoria Vaults but for all live music venues in York.

But Nabeel Hanif, the developer behind the plans, said the ruling keep the building empty not bring it back into use.

The ruling comes after a planning inspector heard the developer’s appeal on Tuesday, August 25.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Mr Hanif said his plans to convert the venue, which closed in December 2024, into a café would keep it open for public use.

The developer claimed the decision was inconsistent with others made on similar plans and he also took issue with Cllr Kilbane’s objections.

He also appealed over the council not deciding on a separate but related application to convert the Nunnery Lane venue into three homes.

But the inspector upheld the council’s decision to block the café plans, ruling the conversion would see an important cultural facility and cultural venue lost without justification.

They added the decision was in line with the council’s policies and any benefits that the conversion would bring did not outweigh the loss of the venue.

City of York Council’s refusal of plans to convert Victoria Vaults into a café was upheld following an appeal (Image: LDRS)

Victoria Vaults hosted Bez from The Happy Mondays, Blondie drummer Clem Burke, goth discos, poetry readings and several other rock, pop and reggae acts prior to closing in December 2024.

Planning documents stated it closed after losing considerable sums of money and a £25,000-a-year lease is currently being marketed by Barry Crux.

It was granted Asset for Community Value (ACV) status in August.

ACV status gives eligible groups the chance to come forward with bids to buy it if its owner decides to sell it.

Nick Love, of York CAMRA, told August’s council hearing there was an overwhelming case to list Victoria Vaults as an ACV due to it furthering social wellbeing and cultural interests.

But Mr Hanif said the venue had been de-listed as an ACV in November 2025 and no offers to buy the building had been made before he purchased it.

Cllr Katie Lomas, the council’s Labour finance spokesperson who approved the ACV bid, said interest shown in taking the venue on showed there was a realistic prospect of it being brought back into use.

Speaking following the appeal ruling, Cllr Kilbane said it confirmed the protections given to cultural and community spaces under the council’s Local Plan.

The councillor, of Micklegate ward which is home to the venue, said: “This ruling is great news not just for the future of the Victoria Vaults but for all music venues in York.

“Given this confidence it is a great time to invest in our local venues, and we look forward to the Victoria Vaults moving on from its current sorry state and once again playing a key role in York’s music scene.”

Developer Mr Hanif said the ruling was not the decision he wanted.

The developer said: “The Victoria Vaults closed in December 2024 after more than £100,000 of public grants failed to keep it open.

“In the 21 months since, nobody has put a viable, funded proposal on the table to run it as a pub, and the council’s own officers recorded in May that no viable interest had emerged.

“Refusing every alternative use put forward does not bring the building back to life, it keeps it empty.”