THE hugely ambitious York Central project could be given the green light by the summer, the city's council leader said today.

Coun Steve Galloway said public consultation on the content and layout for the 70-acre teardrop site could start in the autumn.

Coun Galloway was speaking as members of City of York Council's executive prepared to consider an authority report on the planning approach for the multi-million pound development.

That states that a developer is likely to be appointed in 12 months' time, with the results of a rail study and a site investigation report to be published in the spring.

Coun Galloway said the York Central development was now reaching a "critical point".

"An agent has now been appointed by the landowners. The agent's responsibility will be to oversee the selection of a developer," he said.

"Within a couple of months the feasibility study, which is looking at the precise area of (mainly) Network Rail and National Museum of Science and Industry land which it would be practical to develop, will be concluded.

"Taken together, these steps are significant ones, and I would now anticipate that a green light would be given to the project in the summer, with extensive public consultation on content, and outline layout options, to start in the autumn."

If the timetable goes to schedule, council chiefs hope to have a final report to the executive on the plan in the summer of 2008, before it is submitted to the Secretary of State, John Prescott.

When a developer is appointed in March 2007, a new master plan will be prepared for the teardrop site, which will include detailed work on the demand for office space, housing needs, issues identified by the rail study, and how council initiatives such as the plan for a cultural quarter will fit in with the York Central development.

Coun Galloway said: "This is a very exciting project which will potentially change the face of York for ever, and provide the city with stable employment opportunities for decades to come. It will be the cornerstone of the city's future economic prosperity."

Updated: 09:59 Wednesday, March 01, 2006