WORK to convert the former Boots store in Coney Street into three separate shops could begin shortly as the building comes under new ownership.

The premises have been standing empty in one of York’s main shopping streets since Boots moved to the nearby vacant Woolworths site in July 2008.

The company behind the marketing of the site told The Press yesterday there were a number of offers being considered from major high street retailers.

Mike Fawley, of Leeds-based Fawley-Watson-Booth said the new owners were looking at splitting the site into three separate units with one frontage in Coney Street and two in nearby Market Street.

The restructure would see a 3,000 square foot shop in Coney Street with a second basement premises having an entrance on Market Street.

A third unit would include the first floor of the empty site with access by a staircase and lift on Market Street.

He said: “It’s very positive at the moment, but it’s just at very early stages. We have agreed terms on one of the properties, but no documents have been signed yet.”

He said discussions were under way and at various stages for all three of the proposed units and said there was interest from one retailer to move into the whole of the empty two-storey site.

The building was originally snapped up by Wetherby-based property developers Oakgate Group Plc, but after efforts to find new tenants proved unsuccessful, the site was sold to current owners, County Properties, in Edinburgh.

A spokesman for the Oakgate Group said: “Unfortunately, due to a difficult economic climate last year we had to pull out of negotiations with Boots, but we remain fully committed to York and are actively pursuing other developments in the city.”

Mr Fawley was unable at the stage to name any of the interested retailers, but said he hoped to make an announcement soon.

Meanwhile, York’s retail merry-go-round has continued, with several other city centre outlets closing in recent weeks.

The Rugby Shop, in Low Petergate, is also now closing down.

The Press understands the neighbouring restaurant, La Vecchia Scuola, is to expand into the space vacated by The Rugby Shop.