THE row over English Heritage’s plans for a new visitor centre at Clifford’s Tower will face another court hearing in less than two months.

Cllr Johnny Hayes, who has led the campaign against the building, said they have provisional court dates for their appeal hearing on April 11 or 12 this year.

Cllr Hayes and other campaigners launched their legal battle against the plans in late 2016, after planning permission was given for a new gift shop, cafe and interpretation centre to be built into the base of the motte, facing the Eye of York.

In June last year a High Court judge ruled in favour of the council - who granted the planning permission - but in October Cllr Hayes confirmed they would be taking the case to the Court of Appeal.

Then in November culture minister John Glen stepped in, urging English Heritage to move the proposed new building.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell said the minister supported the view that it should not be built at the foot of the stairs leading to the tower’s entrance, but could instead be decided as part of the proposed major redevelopment of York Castle Museum and the Castle Gateway project.

At the time, Cllr Hayes greeted the intervention as “music to my ears”, and good news for the campaign.

The appeal is set to become a test case for recently established planning law with regards to a development and its impact on archaeology.