Plans were revealed today to further York's rapid development as a centre of educational excellence.

The scheme would also promote another interest dear to the city's heart - freeing up land for new housing.

York College is considering consolidating its split campus on one purpose-built site which now houses the Sixth Form College complex in Tadcaster Road close to the A64.

This would make available the existing Further and Higher Education College site just up the road next to St Leonard's Hospice - more than 20 acres - which could then be sold for housing and help finance the £35 million college development.

It is all part of the recent musical chairs game of redevelopment in York where existing landowners are taking advantage of amazing land prices, selling off this family silver to improve their lot.

It makes sense for York College to reap the benefits of this climate and pull together its two complexes under one purpose-built roof. State-of-the-art buildings would cut maintenance costs and provide much-needed, ultra-modern facilities for the further education of the area's young students.

But the scheme would have to proceed with meticulous planning, particularly with the pressure of traffic already on this busy gateway to the city.

A 23-acre housing estate, no matter how welcome, would increase traffic volume in an area where the newly-opened Copmanthorpe underpass has just funnelled extra vehicles.

The new college plan includes building a roundabout to replace the existing Tadcaster Road/Sim Balk Lane junction. That may be only a part solution.

Consultation with neighbours would also have to play a major part in any new development. New houses close to the hospice and nearby Wilberforce Home for the Multiple Handicapped Blind would have to be handled with sensitivity.

York's planners would also have to consider just what type of housing they would allow on a new development in this key location. They must heed the need for affordable housing in honeypot York. None of these issues are insurmountable obstacles to a well-conceived plan to create a prestige educational establishment.

Updated: 10:05 Monday, October 14, 2002