PLANNERS drawing up an image of York in 20 years' time have highlighted issues the city has to deal with.

Without Walls, a partnership involving the whole city in devising a vision for how York should be, is examining factors which must be taken into account when planning development.

They include a population growth of five per cent, with a fall in under-25s and an increase in older residents. It is also expected that, by 2010, single households will be predominant in the city.

It is also expected that demands for better policing, already being heard in the city, will grow, the use of recreational drugs will increase and a move towards a 24-hour city could lead to a crime wave because of more houses being empty.

The coming years are also expected to see a rise in demand for hotels and leisure facilities, and residents are expected to choose where to live, based more on good shopping, quality of education, law and order and transport links rather than employment. Huge development is expected, particularly on the York Central site between the railway station and Leeman Road.

Environmentally, demands for good transport links will grow, while road transport will increase by 60 per cent. Average temperatures will rise and floods in York will become the norm.

Residents will be wealthier, early retirement will be common and people will be better informed, but more cynical, distrusting and suspicious.

Without Walls' estimates also predict the costs of caring for the old will increase, and the impact of the drinking culture among young people will emerge.

The expectations have been drawn up to help people come up with ideas of what they think the city needs to do to become the place residents want to live in.

The Without Walls project involves the city's most influential groups and is being set up by a board chaired by City of York Council leader Dave Merrett. He says the board wants to hear what the people of York want.

A conference of potential partners is being held at the end of this month, with more than 100 organisations invited to take part.

Andy Milson, whose company Stone Soup came up with the name Without Walls, has said that the idea of York without its ancient walls is unthinkable, but that there might be other walls which need to be challenged while planning for the city's future.

He said that if the name intrigued people, it would have done its job. "It's about fresh thinking."

If you wish to give your views, please email them to adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk, or send them by post to: Adam Nichols, Evening Press, 76-86, Walmgate, York Y01 9YN. Please note that views sent to the paper will be considered available for publication.

Updated: 12:25 Friday, November 15, 2002