CONSERVATIONISTS have called on the new owners of York's Coppergate Centre to talk to them before submitting fresh plans to redevelop land near Clifford's Tower.

The Press revealed yesterday how property giant Land Securities had sold the shopping centre and some neighbouring properties to American-owned LaSalle Investment Management.

That company has appointed regeneration specialists Centros to work up comprehensive proposals to redevelop the Castle/Piccadilly site, where Land Securities' retail-led proposals were blocked by the Government in 2003 following fierce objections at a public inquiry.

Dave Taylor, spokesman for one of the leading objectors at the inquiry, the Castle Area Campaign, said today that it would like to meet people from Centros to explain its hopes and fears for the site.

"Hopefully, this can be a top quality development that will bring benefits to people in York and visitors," he said.

"Our fear is that we will have a repeat of what happened last time - another shopping mall.

"We have always wanted to see as much as possible of the Castle Car Park turned into an area of green open space, although we accept it might be acceptable for a small amount of development, for example an extension to Fenwicks, along with a sensitive redevelopment of Piccadilly."

Philip Crowe, chairman of the campaign group York Tomorrow, which also opposed Land Securities' original scheme, said: "We welcome any move to take forward the regeneration of this part of York."

He said the group had had concerns about the original proposals, which it had raised at the public inquiry, and would welcome an opportunity to meet and discuss matters with Centros before it submitted a planning application.

Peter Brown, company secretary of the conservation watchdog York Civic Trust, another party which opposed Land Securities' plans, said it was important that lessons had been learned from the public inquiry.

"We look forward to playing a part in this at the very earliest stage. We have come to the view that it is better to be pro-actively involved rather than reactively.

"That way we can avoid many of the pitfalls."

He added the trust wanted the site to be developed, but was not totally convinced that a comprehensive development was the answer.