TWO landowners declared today they would have to be forced to sell their key properties to make way for York's Coppergate Riverside scheme.

One of them, Martin Burgess, warned that if efforts were made to compulsorily purchase the two properties in Piccadilly, that could force another expensive public inquiry.

Mr Burgess said that if he and Eric Jackson voluntarily sold the former Polar buildings at nos 34 and 46/50 Piccadilly, it would make them party to allowing a "massive, inappropriate and unsightly development to blight this city."

They called on City of York Council to play its part in bringing forward an alternative proposal "worthy of this location."

The revelations were made at the public inquiry into Land Securities' £60 million scheme to redevelop land between Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly with shops, restaurants and apartments.

In a statement prepared on behalf of both owners, Mr Burgess said they had owned the properties since 1978.

In 1991, they had supported a different proposal by Wimpey to redevelop the area. A planning brief then emerged which assumed a development of around 140,000 square feet.

"The scheme under consideration is now more than double that size. In our view, the scheme proposed is now much too large for this site."

He said there would be a "monolithic mass of structures", which would dominate historic buildings in the area.

A 300-metre stretch of Piccadilly would be turned into a characterless service road by high, monotonous buildings.

"This unique and historic site should be an inspiration for world-class architecture and worthy buildings."

He said they had brought forward their own, very different vision for the area called the Castle Quarter, which they believed showed the potential to create a truly mixed use scheme on a scale which accorded with the city's urban grain.

The hearing continues

Updated: 16:51 Wednesday, May 22, 2002