Comment | Read Comments (9)

Steve Davis, of Grantside Ltd, at the Terry's

PLANNERS still aren't ready to give their verdict on ambitious proposals to redevelop the former Terry's factory - almost 16 months after they received an application.

York-based Grantside Limited is set to create about 2,800 jobs on the site of the chocolate works, where it wants to build new offices, hotels, a creative technology centre for Science City York, a health centre and a care home.

The proposals also include a nursery, public park, gallery, pub and restaurant, brasserie and café and a central piazza.

When Grantside submitted its scheme to City of York Council in November 2006, managing director Steve Davis urged the authority to treat it as a "great priority" for York, and said he hoped permission would be granted by last spring.

The Press reported last October that council staff were struggling to cope with demand with an unprecedented number of large-scale developments coming forward, and major projects could face being delayed.

Last November, the council said it hoped the Terry's proposal would go before the planning committee in December, but that failed to happen.

Today, assistant director of planning Mike Slater denied there had been any "serious delays," and said the authority was working with the applicant to bring the application to planning committee as soon as possible. However, he was unable to say whether it would make the April meeting.

He said that a large scale proposal such as this was a "very complex piece of work", adding: "In order that the application is robust, the council works very closely with the applicant, ensuring that the planning application addresses all the relevant areas.

"This is not always a straightforward exercise, particularly with a site as large as Terry's.

"For example, we are having to examine very closely the traffic and highways issues which developing this site would involve, making sure that all areas have been addressed."

Mr Davis said today he was philosophical about the Terry's delays, saying he accepted that it was a very complex application and that Grantside was working closely with the council to resolve outstanding matters.

He said he hoped the application could be considered at either the April or the May planning committee and, if approved, work could start on parts of the site by the summer. "We have been doing a lot of work in the background and are ready to go," he said.

Have your say

2:23am Saturday 29th March 2008

Print

Email this

Comment