MORE than 1,000 homes and a new primary school are to be built on the site of a former York factory, under new plans submitted to city leaders.

British Sugar revealed yesterday that is has submitted planning applications for the development of its old sugar factory off Boroughbridge Road in the north west of the city.

The proposals include 1,100 new homes, a new access road, public open spaces and community facilities like a new primary school, nursery school, and community and sports hall.

David Mills, Head of Group Property at Associated British Foods (ABF), which owns British Sugar, said the site provided a huge opportunity for local people.

He added: “Successful applications will ensure that this brownfield site be can be brought back into beneficial use, delivering a high-quality, sustainable development, providing much needed new housing, new open spaces and sports facilities and new community uses."

Access will also come through Millfield Lane, which will be linked to the new road by a Main Street in the development, which the planners say will designed to stop it becoming a rat run.

Another secondary access road will be put in from Plantation Drive, along with a cycle route on to Ouseacres.

While City of York Council confirmed it had received the application, full details of the scheme will not be available until it has been validated by the planning team.

Landowners ABF say the masterplan has been informed by feedback from members of the public and key stakeholders such as local businesses and community groups in consultations, two public exhibitions, and a Community Forum.

Their input has shaped matters such as the location and distribution of green spaces. The masterplan includes a large green space at the centre of the site as well as smaller green spaces across the site, all giving opportunities for sport and recreation.

Mr Mills added: "We’d like to thank local residents and stakeholders for their participation and valuable input into the consultation and planning process. This feedback has shaped the masterplan proposals and allowed us to submit applications which have regard to the needs of the community."

The proposals also include around 15,000 sq.m of land set aside for community uses, near the main entrance to the site, new pedestrian and bike links, and new bus stops on the site.

And the application includes a Design Principles document, which has been produced to guide the quality of future development on the site, and sets out different character "zones" .

Cllr David Levene, York's cabinet member for transport, planning and economic development, welcomed the news of progress on the site. He said: “We've seen huge progress recently with Hungate, York Central and Terry's and this is really welcome news for another of one of York's largest brownfield sites.

"These applications for residential development and site re-modelling will offer the city a great opportunity to address the severe challenges the city faces in providing homes for York residents."

The British Sugar/ Manor School site is included in the latest draft of the Local Plan as the site for new homes 1,140 in the next 16 years, and in the longer term with a possible tram stop or railway station for the housing the nearby York Business Park.