RESIDENTS living near the site of one of the most pivotal developments in York’s recent history say better bus services and ensuring one of the city’s landmarks continues to stand out on the skyline must play a part in any scheme.

Views on the future of the former Terry’s chocolate factory have been sent to City of York Council after a five-week public consultation process on how its historic, but now defunct site should be transformed got under way.

The authority has unveiled a new blueprint for the site next to York Racecourse, following a controversial decision by councillors last year to dismiss an application drawn up by developers Grantside.

The firm had spent £26 million to buy the chocolate-maker’s former home in August 2006 and wanted to create scores of new homes – including affordable housing – a luxury hotel and space for offices and workshops, creating up to 2,800 jobs in the process.

Despite planning officers recommending giving the application the green light, the council’s planning committee left Grantside – whose bosses maintained they had followed the guidelines they were asked to adhere to – stunned and angry when it unanimously rejected the scheme last August.

The company says it still wants to regenerate the Terry’s site and the council’s city development team has since drawn up a fresh development brief to guide future proposals, with residents and other interested parties across the city having until February 22 to make their views known.

The opinions of the Micklegate ward planning panel – which covers the former plant off Bishopthorpe Road – have now been submitted and include:

* Improving First York’s No 11 bus service in the area is “essential as part of any development”, and the possibility of connecting services between Bishopthorpe Road and the Askham Bar Park&Ride base should also be considered

* The factory’s clock tower and main building “must remain the dominant features in any proposed development” and “consideration should be given to limiting the height of other buildings on the site”

* There should be “recognition of the cumulative effects of traffic growth in the area”

* Any proposal for a possible Bishopthorpe bypass needs to be “examined carefully”.

“Broadly speaking, we think many of the changes to the brief are sensible,” said the planning panel’s clerk Andy Chase.

“But the key thing is getting as much public involvement as possible at this stage, so people can get to have their say on the things which need to be included.”

Potential uses for the site included in the new brief include a “high-quality” hotel, conference and leisure facilities and housing and live/work units, while the documents also says any scheme should benefit people living near the former factory and have a “communal” feel.

Leaflets outlining the proposed changes have been distributed to local residents and the brief is now being discussed at ward committee meetings.

Copies are available at the council offices in St Leonard’s Place and the Guildhall, the Central, Bishopthorpe and Dringhouses libraries, St Chad’s Church, in Campleshon Road, South Bank Social Club in Ovington Terrace, St Clement’s Working Men’s Club and The Winning Post pub in Bishopthorpe Road.

Following the consultation period, the brief will be revised as necessary and go before the council’s planning committee in April.