A MILESTONE has been reached on the York Stadium project as all the organisations involved in the scheme met for a topping out ceremony at the site.

The Press was invited to join a tour of the site where work is progressing on the 8,000 seat community stadium, leisure centre and cinema complex.

Project manager Rob Copley said the glass facade should be on the community stadium building in about 10 weeks and the road around the site is due to be complete within two months.

The site will feature a gym, a swimming pool, gym, dance studio, climbing facilities and a sports hall.

NHS outpatient services will also be offered on site and there will be a new library and York Against Cancer retail unit. The cinema is set to have 13 screens and an IMAX. There will also be five restaurants and up to three new retail units.

A spokesman for one of the partner organisations, developer Wrenbridge Sport, said that while they cannot reveal what restaurants and brands might be opening at the site, they are currently in negotiations and are "confident" that the retail units will be let.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, executive member for leisure, culture and tourism at City of York Council said: “It is fantastic to see so much happening on site with the works progressing on time and it has been great seeing the whole complex start to take shape. This topping out ceremony is another milestone for the project and excitement is really building as we get closer and closer to opening.”

Council leader Cllr Ian Gillies said the development will be a "welcome asset" for the city.

Mary Weastell, chief executive of the council, added: "It's been guts and resilience that have kept it moving. We are on schedule with the time line for work. Reaching this milestone is unbelievable."

The stadium and leisure complex is due to open next summer.