PETER Terry, who has died aged 87, was a man who oversaw terrific changes to the family chocolate business.

When wholesale deregulation of the industry pitched the business into the stormy waters of global competition, he was instrumental in keeping the firm true to the Terry family ethos.

He helped ensure the factory stayed in York as it passed through different corporate hands. He was therefore greatly pained by the decision by Kraft to abandon Bishopthorpe Road.

It is a strange twist of fate that sees us reporting his death on the same day as revealing the future of the Terry's site. While no one would have wished for the plant's demise, the proposed development of this plum location has a lot going for it.

Firstly, this is not an outside job. The winner of the bidding war is Grantside Ltd, based at Holgate Park, York. Managing director Steve Davis lives at Middlethorpe in a home once owned by the Terry family.

If anyone is aware of the sensitive historical nature of this location, it is Mr Davis. He has already proposed maintaining a link with two centuries of confectionery, by including a small chocolate museum in his plans.

A prestige hotel, flats and offices are also on the drawing board, and should create many more jobs than Terry's when it closed.

When finalising the development brief, the city council must ensure that these proposals fit with other major plans for York Central, Hungate, the Barbican and elsewhere. Once this is achieved, we can emerge from the shock of Terry's downfall and start planning ahead with confidence.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, February 02, 2006