YORK leaders have been warned not the repeat the mistakes of the past in ambitious plans to redevelop land around Clifford’s Tower.

This week details were unveiled of sweeping plans to transform York’s “Castle Gateway”, an area that includes the historic tower as well as the Castle Museum, the Eye of York, Coppergate and Piccadilly.

The site has long been a source of contention for planners and developers, and the new proposals are the latest step in a saga that has stretched over years.

However, heritage experts and campaigners have now spoken up to tell the city council that while progress is to be applauded, ignoring the failures of the past would be a disaster.

Phillip Crowe was part of a campaign against the doomed “Coppergate II”. That scheme would have seen shops built on the Castle car park site, and although it was backed by the city council it was blocked by a planning inspector in 2003, who said it would unacceptably impinge on the sensitive and historic area.

Now Mr Crowe has said the council must not let a new project repeat the same mistakes, or risk another public inquiry.

Phillip Crowe said: “We welcome the fact that progress is being made on this project.

York Press:

“We know that part of the vision includes building on the site of Castle car park. We were very concerned that this aspect of the development was included in Coppergate II, and it seems as though this is a similar proposal - which we would not be very happy with.”

In 2003 the planning inspector said the history of the site should be the overriding consideration is such a sensitive area.

In reports released earlier this week, current council staff said that with no money available, the project relies on realising the value of council land - of which the most lucrative would be Castle car park.

Meanwhile, York Civic Trust has warmly welcomed the progress the masterplan shows.

The trust’s Dr David Fraser said they were particularly pleased with plans to get rid of car parking around Clifford’s Tower, open up riverside walkways, and insist on high quality architecture.

“It is a disgrace that we have all allowed the area to be a crowded car park rather than appreciate it as the most important public space in our special city – once England’s second city," he said. "It is also time we started to regard our rivers as an economic and cultural asset and open them up to public access.”

“This is an exciting time and we are happy to add our shoulder to the council’s positive attempts to improve our city.”