Shed of the Year entree told he needs planning permission

A philanthropist behind a shed that doubles as a food bank must apply for retroactive planning permission if he wants to keep helping vulnerable people.

John McGall runs the "I am Reusable" food bank in York, which was set up to help people in need, including NHS staff, during the pandemic.

But after an anonymous complaint, John must put in an application for retrospective planning permission – which will cost around £1,000.

Shed used as a food bank 'to feed 120 people a day'

The shed is claimed to provide food and supplies to hundreds of people, such as struggling families, in the community every day and hands out food parcels to social workers, probation workers, the police, and other charities.

John has spent 16 years as a volunteer working to help the homeless, disabled, and other vulnerable people in the city.

He claims his food bank feeds around 120 people a day and is open every day of the year thanks to its 60 volunteers. It receives deliveries from major retailers like M&S, Sainsbury's, Co-op, as well as smaller local independent firms.

John’s shed has become so famous it was nominated for the ‘Shed of the Year’ award, an event sponsored by Cuprinol.

Why was planning permission needed for the shed?

John said: “We shouldn't have to exist but as long as people need us we will be there.

“We operate from a shed in our garden and one anonymous person complained to the planning dept at the council two years ago.

“We have had many difficult discussions since then, but the outcome is that we now need to put in an application for retrospective planning permission.

“If a valid application is not submitted in less than three months, the food bank will have to cease, the building be removed from the site and formal enforcement action will be considered by the council.”

What will happen to the shed in the meantime?

A JustGiving page set up by John and his wife, Julie, has so far raised £1,815 and John says the donations have covered the first stage of the planning process.

John adds that additional funds may be needed to improve the shed’s structure if the application is unsuccessful.

“If we have funds left over this will be spent on the shed fixtures, maintenance and decent CCTV to stop the regular theft of our food bank fixtures and fittings and own personal items from outside our home,” he added.

“We are only able to operate due to the kindness and a lot of extremely hard work from volunteers.

“We operate on a shoestring and don't get any grants or funding so all our operations are via donations.”