PLANS for a massive development on York's Nestlé Rowntree site are a step closer after they were discussed by planning chiefs.

A revised draft development brief for the Nestlé South site was considered by City of York Council's planning committee last night.

The document includes the proposal for a controversial link road, which could be set to allow private traffic following demands from members of the public.

When a keynote brief for the site was published earlier this year it was suggested that any new road would be open to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport only, but following an eight-week period of public consultation, the revised proposals say they will be given "priority".

Traffic modelling is to be carried out to assess whether it is viable to allow private traffic to use the proposed route, which would link Haxby Road and Wigginton Road.

One local resident attended the meeting to voice her concerns about the planned link road to councillors.

Mrs Parker, who lives in the house directly on the corner of Hayley's Terrace and Haxby Road, said the plans made it look as if the road could go right through the middle of her home or garden.

She said she was concerned that if the plans went ahead they could lead to the house, which was built in the 1830s and once belonged to the chief constable of York, being bulldozed.

But she was told by officers that they would avoid taking her land "at all costs".

Derek Gould, principal city development officer, said it was "inconceivable" that they would take her property to make way for the road.

Mrs Parker also expressed concerns that while other nearby buildings such as Rowntree Theatre had been considered in the report, there was no mention at all of her home.

Coun Ann Reid asked for the document to be amended so the house was mentioned by name in the plans.

The brief calls for a new "live-work community and cultural hub" on the southern part of the site, which Nestlé wants to sell, with high-quality urban design, sustainable buildings, public spaces and attractive pedestrian and cycle routes.

Coun Bill Bennett said he wanted assurances that the site would provide accommodation for young people in York who wanted to start up their own small businesses.