THE NEW access road for the redevelopment of York Central should be built off Water End, away from a community garden threatened by an alternative plan, the developers say.

The York Central Partnership has revealed it wants a western access road - and not the southern route which would have cut through Holgate Community Garden.

Papers due to be published later today will see the partnership tell senior City of York Councillors that a combination of two proposed western access roads would be the best option.

Catherine Birks, commercial project manager for York Central Partnership, said: “This is a critical step forward in enabling the development of York Central, we believe a western option will provide the best solution for the project, the city and residents.

“The consultation events we held brought the issues residents and local communities are concerned about to the fore, and this, alongside the technical advice and evidence made it clear that a western access route is a more preferable option."

Earlier this month the partnership published consultation responses which revealed huge opposition to southern access option from Holgate.

She added: “What is most apparent from looking at the routes, and also a view expressed by many at the consultation events, is that the ideal solution is to develop a version combining elements of both western options that will not only minimise the impact on Millennium Green, but also avoid the need for a large span bridge and the full widening of Water End bridge.

“A combined option not only gives us some really clear benefits for the project but also takes into consideration the needs and concerns expressed by the communities and organisations that will be affected by this.”

Two separate western options were originally considered as part of an access consultation, but the partnership wants to combine the two to minimise impacts and costs.

A western access road will have benefits in terms of keeping traffic away from communities in Holgate Road and Wilton Rise, and in diverting through traffic away from Leeman Road and Salisbury Terrace.

Catherine added: “From the outset we have been committed to working with residents and local communities, to listen to their concerns and understand the issues and impacts and how we can work together to create a scheme that everyone can benefit from.

“Listening to the community has been a really important part of the process to date, and it is imperative that the views of residents and local communities continue to remain a priority and they can see their feedback is valued.

“Continuing to work closely with local groups and organisations to feed into the masterplan will form a significant part of the process over the coming months as we progress towards a much wider public consultation in early 2018.”

The partnership’s choice will go before the council executive for consideration on November 15.  If supported by the Council Executive, there will be more public consultation as part of the planning permission process.

When the three options were revealed in August, the partnership said the route going through Millennium Green would be about 45 per cent cheaper than the other route off Water End which would just skirt the edge of the green.

The 'southern option' route from Holgate Road would be approximately 65 per cent cheaper than the most expensive route from Water End.

Campaigners have given the revelation a cautious welcome.

Chris Barratt, who is part of Save Holgate Community Garden, said while the news looked positive but was still only a "recommendation" and not a final decision.

While the western option "looks like the result we wanted", he said, but they do not want to push the problem onto another community.

The papers also reveal the new "mitigated" western access route will cost between £33 million and £44 million, more than the routes across Millennium Green or from Holgate Road, but less than the route which skirts Millennium Green and would cost around £58 million to £68 million.

However, the executive is also being asked to "safeguard" some land for the Holgate Road option, so that the whole development can still go ahead if this road plan falls apart.