DEVELOPERS are set to breathe new life into a former York supermarket which has lain empty and boarded up for almost a decade.

Oakgate Group Plc wants to create five new retail units within the former Presto supermarket in George Hudson Street.

It believes its proposed £2 million investment can transform a street which is often regarded an "ugly duckling" into a "beautiful swan."

The Wetherby-based company also wants to provide an extra 43 parking spaces in the Tanner Row car park above the store, helping to meet peak-time demand from city-centre motorists.

The former Presto store has been one of the city centre's worst eyesores since it closed down in 1995.

Fly-posters and graffiti artists have often targeted boardings along the front of the building.

Oakgate has submitted a planning application to City of York Council to refurbish the ground floor and part of the first floor to create five new retail units, each upwards of 2,500 square ft.

A spokesman said that four of the units would be along the George Hudson Street frontage, while the fifth would be on the first floor in Tanner Row.

The additional 43 parking spaces would be on the ground floor, at the back of what was the supermarket, taking the car park capacity to 255.

He said the car park, which won a prestigious security award following its refurbishment last year, was increasingly popular with motorists and was sometimes full to capacity.

Formerly dingy and insecure, the car park is now regarded as one of the safest and cleanest in the city.

Oakgate managing director Richard France said: "We are delighted to be able to breathe new life into the city centre of York.

"George Hudson Street has often been regarded as an ugly duckling but we believe that it will be transformed into a beautiful swan with these new retail units."

The spokesman said Oakgate was in discussions with a number of retailers, but could not at this stage reveal who might occupy the proposed units.

Updated: 11:02 Friday, August 20, 2004