YORK'S most influential groups were meeting today in an effort to form the next 20 years of the city's development.

Potential partners from more than 100 organisations were planning the formation of Without Walls, a project aiming to draw up plans for York's future.

Councillor Dave Merrett, the chairman of a board which is setting up Without Walls, said: "Everyone in York can have their say, and I hope they will want to do so because this debate is about the very nature of our city in 20 years."

The meeting was being held in the Merchant Adventurers' Hall.

Updated: 12:14 Tuesday, November 26, 2002