PROPERTY giant Land Securities revealed today it may sell off York's Coppergate Centre - throwing long-awaited plans to redevelop the nearby Castle area into turmoil.

The company confirmed to The Press that it has had "discussions with a small number of interested parties" over the possible sale of the shopping centre and neighbouring properties in Piccadilly.

A spokesman said it had been carefully considering its options for Coppergate, while "maintaining dialogue" with City of York Council.

One option was the possible sale of the centre and neighbouring properties that it owned.

"There is nothing more that we can add at this stage,"said the spokesman.

Land Securities is reportedly seeking £50 million for the site, but the spokesman declined to comment on this.

Labour councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing said today she feared the run-down Piccadilly area could remain an eyesore for years to come if the sale went ahead.

She said everyone involved in drawing up a new design brief for the area last year had hoped it would have allowed Land Securities to move forward, resulting in a first-class design for such an important area of York.

"If the sale goes ahead, I would hope that the new owners will accept all the work undertaken in the design brief so that money is not wasted duplicating the process."

The party's leader, Coun David Scott, said: "York has waited a very long time to see Piccadilly and the surrounding area improved. This street is a major gateway' to the city centre, yet residents and visitors are met with a run-down area that lets down everything else that is good about the city centre."

He said it was time for the council to show leadership.

But the Liberal Democrat council leader, Steve Galloway, said he could see no reason why a different developer would mean a delay.

"Indeed, any new investor would be likely to want to see a return on their capital quickly," he said.

"We will look forward to working with either Land Securities or with a new developer in the future to realise this important redevelopment of the Coppergate/Piccadilly area, which is so important for the city.

"The council and Land Securities have always had an excellent working relationship and we fully understand their reasons for looking at the option to dispose of all their assets to a single purchaser."

He said any scheme would need to take account of the lessons of the past, so whoever developed Coppergate would need to deliver a better scheme than the previous one.

"Any new investor will be aware of the limitations and opportunities offered by the revised planning brief for the area," he said.

Campaigners urge fresh approach

CAMPAIGNERS today called for a fresh approach to the redevelopment of the sensitive Castle-Piccadilly site.

Two pressure groups, York Tomorrow and the Castle Area Campaign, fought Land Securities' original plans to redevelop the Castle/Piccadilly area with new shops - including a huge new Debenham's department store - at a major public inquiry in 2002.

York Tomorrow chairman Philip Crowe said that instead of new shops and stores, there should be new offices to create a business quarter.

He said this would generate more income for the city and employ more people at higher wages than a retail development. He said such a change of stance had been suggested in the recent Future York report.

Dave Taylor, who is a member of the Castle Area Campaign as well as being a Green councillor, said: "We would be pleased to see the back of Land Securities. This is a great opportunity to make this a world-class development for the benefit of York and its visitors."

He said he would like to see Piccadilly redeveloped with a mix of offices and retail, with the Castle Car Park, right, primarily turned into public open space.

Timeline of the Coppergate saga

2002: Public inquiry held into Land Securities' £60 million Coppergate Riverside proposals

September, 2003: Government throws out Coppergate Riverside, but does not rule out redevelopment of the site altogether

March, 2006: City of York Council agrees fresh blueprint to guide future development at the site

May, 2006: Land Securities says it hopes to decide by end of year whether to bring forward fresh proposals

July, 2007: Land Securities says it is still considering its options for the site

October 2000: Land Securities reveals it may sell off both the Coppergate Centre and nearby properties, ending any involving in the redevelopment scheme