THE regeneration of York's historic Bonding Warehouse is set to get the go-ahead, more than seven years after being devastated by floods.

Developer William Legard wants to turn the Victorian landmark building into offices and flats. Next week councillors will be asked to approve the plans, which include an innovative folding bridge to provide access when the River Ouse is especially high.

The Bonding Warehouse, on Skeldergate, has most recently been used as a bar and restaurant but has fallen into disrepair since being flooded in 2000, and squatters have twice moved in.

Various uses were proposed for the building, including a five-star hotel providing 200 jobs. But Mr Legard won the bidding battle last year, and City of York Council officers have advised a planning committee to approve his plans.

Planning official Gareth Arnold said: "The building is an important component of the riverside environment and this scheme would appear to create a viable use for the building. It would remove dereliction and provide new life in this area."

The plans had originally included a fixed bridge, so residents could still access the flats when the Ouse flooded. But a number of local residents and conservation groups objected, with one saying it would be a "visual disaster".

Mr Arnold said: "The original proposal for a permanent bridge has been superseded by a bi-fold bridge proposal which would only be lowered in times of flood. This is an ingenious solution with very little impact on the conservation area.

"However it depends on there being a permanent landing structure within the landscape opposite to enable occupants to escape at higher level close to Skeldergate Bridge."

He said the landing structure would have a "minor adverse impact" on the conservation area.

Mr Legard bought the warehouse for £1.15 million last summer, and plans to create eight flats with an estimated asking price of £500,000 and a luxury penthouse priced at £1.5 million.

The former farmer and estate agent, of Lowthorpe, near Driffield, intends to spend £3 million on the restoration and has told The Press he hopes to have the flats ready by 2009.

The plans will be considered by the council's west and city centre area planning sub-committee at 3pm next Thursday.