The £60 million Coppergate Riverside proposal this week nears the end of a decade of heated debate. As a three-week Government inquiry begins, Political Reporter Adam Nichols looks at one of the most controversial development

proposals in the history of City of York Council

THE fate of Coppergate seemed sealed. After five-and-a-half hours of concentrated discussion, argument and wrangling, York's councillors had reached agreement.

The £60 million scheme to transform land surrounding Clifford's Tower and in Piccadilly into 250,000 square feet of retail space, restaurants, offices, flats, leisure facilities and a multi-storey car park had the go-ahead.

But, as developers celebrated in November 2000, massive opposition was already moving into top gear.

A major letter-writing campaign urging Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to study the plans began. Five months later, he agreed.

"Mr Prescott considers that the proposals may conflict with national policies on important matters; could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality; give rise to significant regional controversy; and raise significant architectural and urban design issues," said his spokesman.

Tomorrow, government inspector Anthony Bingham starts an inquiry expected to last three weeks and cost the York taxpayer £110,000.

He will hear arguments from developer Land Securities and City of York Council, followed by evidence from York Tomorrow, whose alternative proposals of parkland at the base of Clifford's Tower were refused by the council.

The Commission for Architecture and Built Environment, which is involved in design issues, will be heard, along with interested groups including the York Chamber of Trade, the Castle Area Campaign, the York Tourism Bureau and Martin Burgess, who put forward an alternative vision for the area.

The inquiry will be the culmination of a saga that began in the early 1990s when the former York City Council unveiled a £50 million development scheme for the site currently being used as a car park.

It was the biggest shops development in the city centre since the Coppergate Centre was built in the 1970s, and promised to halt competition from out-of-town stores.

But, for several years, no formal planning application came. The then developers Wimpey did not have the confidence to press ahead as Britain suffered a faltering economy.

It was not until 1998 that Land Securities, who had taken over the development, finally lodged an application - significantly different from the original plans.

The complex was closer to Clifford's Tower, an extension to the crown court had disappeared and a caf development in Piccadilly resembled the Queen Mary liner, according to critics.

Public opposition was huge. Proposals were revised but, at a council meeting in December 1998, councillors sided with campaigners and refused it planning permission.

But Land Securities was certainly not about to give up. Plans were revised and put up before the council in 2000.

Opposition groups again got massive support. A readers' poll in the Evening Press showed only 210 callers supported the Land Securities proposal, while 2,191 backed York Tomorrow.

Concerns included the effect on Clifford's Tower, architectural worries, the effect on wildlife in the River Foss and the impact the new shopping centre would have on other city streets such as Coney Street.

But in November the proposal was accepted.

Tomorrow sees the start of the final chapter in a saga that has gripped York for years. It is the end of one of the most forcefully-fought battles against City of York Council, and it is expected to be an explosive showdown.

Updated: 12:51 Friday, January 18, 2002