A STRONG shade of "green" has been included in the draft planning brief for the University of York's huge new campus, Heslington East.

York's Green Party councillors, Mark Hill and Andy D'Agorne, forced two amendments to be added into the brief when it was considered by planning chiefs.

The brief went out to public consultation earlier this week and is available for viewing on City of York Council's website.

The two amendments require a sustainability assessment before any planning application, and include a reference to "cutting edge sustainability" as one of the development's guiding principles if it goes ahead.

A sustainability assessment would see the proposed campus's life-cycle analysed in green terms. This includes looking at the materials used to build it, the energy it might use and renovation possibilities when its life as a campus is over.

Cutting edge sustainability means planners would consider the use of up-to-date technology to ensure the building is as green as possible.

This could mean the use of grey water systems, to recycle water used in equipment such as washing machines, or building solar panels for energy.

Coun D'Agorne said: "We are very pleased the two amendments were included. If this development is going to go ahead it is crucial these issues are taken into account.

"We are trying to be the voice that picks up on these sort of issues. We want to alert the main parties to them."

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said: "We were keen to ensure the Heslington East development was as sustainable as possible, but did not want to lock ourselves into anything inflexible.

"These amendments will ensure the most up-to-date standards are used, while giving all parties the flexibility to ensure the future development will be up to the highest possible sustainability standards."

A university spokeswoman said: "Sustainability issues are very important to us. We have a lot of research groups here working in that sort of area and the sort of people that study and work at the university are generally pretty committed to green issues. Sustainability is one of the main tenets of Heslington East."

The draft development brief is available for viewing at the council offices in St Leonard's Place, libraries on York's east side and at the council's website www.york.gov.uk

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, October 08, 2003