York's embattled Coppergate Riverside project has won a double boost from conservation and cycling organisations, following recent amendments.

English Heritage says Land Securities' revised planning application meets its previous concerns over design and archaeological issues and has "much to commend it".

And the Cyclists Touring Club has welcomed the decision to include a new cycle bridge over the River Foss, saying it will provide a vital link for cyclists between York's Millennium Bridge and Piccadilly.

At the same time, one critic of the original Coppergate Riverside proposals, architect Patrick Nuttgens, has said the amended scheme is "certainly better" than the original project, but he still has concerns about the proposed design.

Land Securities has amended its original £60 million scheme to extend the Coppergate Centre over land between Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly, following criticism of the architecture and of the absence of a cycle bridge.

English Heritage gave a general thumbs-up to the original scheme but said it had concerns about design issues, particularly over the building closest to the Castle Museum. Now in a letter to City of York Council, the organisation's inspector of historic buildings, Trevor Mitchell, says the changes go a long way to meeting its concerns over the relationship to the former Women's Prison (now the museum).

"Such outstanding matters as the type, pattern and finish of materials, the precise design of decorative detail and detailed landscaping would presumbably be covered by conditions....

"I am pleased to be able to confirm that our previous concerns over design issues have been met."

Mr Mitchell says additional archeaological measures deal satisfactorily with Heritage's concerns on this issue, although it was likely that further work would be needed in support of any subsequent Scheduled Monument Consent application.

"I am therefore able to convey English Heritage's final advice that the planning application as amended satisfies our conservation interests and has much to commend it. Accordingly, English Heritage would not wish to oppose the granting of planning permission."

Paul Hepworth, of the CTC, said it welcomed news that the dedicated cycle bridge was being reinstated in the scheme. "When this bridge was first deleted from the proposals, ourselves and the local York Cycle Campaign group mounted a successful lobby of council planners, members and the developer.

"We are delighted that Land Securities have been able to reinstate this element of the scheme, which will also feature an increase in cycle parking for employees and shoppers in the new complex."

Patrick Nuttgens, who wrote in the Evening Press in August that he believed the original Coppergate proposals were quite unworthy of this famous city, told the paper he felt the revised scheme was an improvement but he was still considering it in detail and had concerns.