THE proposed scheme for the Terry's site in York has been heralded as an exciting new mixed development with hotels, housing and business park (February 6).
This will be a change from industrial and warehousing which provided differing ability employment in food manufacturing and distribution on what, let's not forget, was originally a greenfield site prior to Terry's move from Skeldergate.
The hotel and housing side of this development will prevent any form of industrial and manufacturing process taking root on this site as the two do not adequately mix.
York planners should stick to their council-directed guns on the planning designation to make sure land is retained for manufacturing, be it industrial or process industry, and not allow change of use as at Clifton Moor, where a once out-of-town industrial and commercial site has become a retail park.
The potential consequences with respect to rateable values for city centre shops and market are obvious.
Developers will say there is no demand for other than retail, housing and offices, but would it matter if it took 50 years to fill a site with industry, if it maintained the potential for a truly mixed York employment base?
The danger is that a limited range of job opportunities will result from this development, and encourage present industry to cash in on the increased value of land that "change of use" can bring.
Philip Crowder,
York Road,
York.
Updated: 10:19 Thursday, February 16, 2006
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