THE team set to take charge of creating York’s new council headquarters believe it will breathe fresh life into its historic setting.

As revealed in The Press on Saturday, City of York Council has selected West Offices in Station Rise for its new home.

The building – on the site of York’s former railway station – was chosen ahead of insurance firm Aviva’s Yorkshire House site in Rougier Street.

The bid, which has been devised by West Offices’ freeholders York Investors LLP, is now being recommended for approval by the council’s executive next week.

If it is given the go-ahead, contracts will be signed in January and a public consultation exercise will be staged, with the aim being to complete the project by the end of 2012.

Sandy Smith of York Investors LLP, which comprises Buccleuch Property and York-based S Harrison Developments Ltd, said: “We believe West Offices will provide a superb and fitting location for the council’s headquarters which will be accessible, pleasant to visit in a superb setting and will deliver the cost savings the council is seeking.”

The project’s design is being led by York-based architects CSP.