YORK Minster has unveiled plans to create a new public square dedicated to the Queen and to install a statue of the monarch at the front of the cathedral.

Officials say ‘Queen Elizabeth Square,’ part of a new draft Neighbourhood Plan for the Minster Precinct, will be the first new square in York in nearly 200 years.

Other proposals include:

• A new café and outdoor seating in a converted building at 1 Deangate

• A new building to the right of the south entrance to house a ticket office and welcome centre for visitors

• A dedicated cycle path in Deangate, allowing for safer segregation of cyclists and pedestrians.

“Queen Elizabeth Square is part of a wider city initiative to improve Duncombe Place at the Minster’s west front by creating a new civic space for York and a ceremonial space for the county,” said a spokeswoman.

“The new square will be pedestrianised and landscaped to provide a pleasant seating area for visitors, creating a comfortable and safe protected space where people can gather for major events such as Christmas markets and other activities.

“Access for local residents, businesses and the taxi rank will be retained.”

She said the life-sized statue of the Queen - which is intended to honour her long reign and has been approved in concept by the monarch - would be carved in Magnesian limestone by a stone mason from the Minster’s Stoneyard and installed on one of the empty niches at the front of the cathedral.

She said other key elements of the plans were a sensory garden with access to the City Walls and improvements to back of house facilities for the Minster’s operations.

She said a second phase of the plan would "focus on enhancements in education and learning", with investment in the Minster School and the Old Palace to make it a centre of excellence.

The draft plan has been published following a public consultation last May on the future of buildings and land within the Minster boundaries.

The spokeswoman said 290 responses were received and the feedback used to develop and refine today’s plans.

Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct, said the scheme was the result of detailed collaboration with the Minster’s immediate neighbours, the wider local community and statutory bodies including City of York Council and Historic England.

“The future of the Minster Precinct is hugely important to many people, particularly to those who live and work in the neighbourhood,” he said, adding that a neighbourhood forum had been created to ensure any proposals were viable, sustainable and appropriate.

“The draft Neighbourhood Plan has become the catalyst for one of the most significant and exciting civic improvement projects anywhere in the country.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the city of York to create an outstanding and accessible new public square that draws people to the space and is sympathetic to the city’s history and heritage.”

• The proposals will be available for public viewing and comment at a two-day exhibition in the Minster’s South Piazza from 10am until 5pm today and tomorrow, and online at masterplanning.yorkminster.org until June 16.