A MAJOR chance to help shape key development sites which will affect York's long-term economic future has been gained by York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber, which represents the interests of thousands of business people in the county, has now been given the legal framework to formally be consulted on plans for the key sites.

Peter Warren, town and country planning solicitor with York's commercial law firm Denison Till, has helped the chamber make formal representations to City of York Council on planning issues for York Central, Hungate and The Barbican, enabling it to ensure that the views of member businesses are heard.

Mr Warren, whose addition to the Denison Till commercial property team creates a one-stop-shop service covering construction, planning, commercial property and property litigation, helped the chamber by collating the views of its members and preparing the formal, written representations.

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "York is undergoing an exciting period of development and has a thriving business community but, as with so many others towns and cities, it is essential that its future is framed by proper consultation and debate with the views of business being taken into account."

Updated: 09:20 Tuesday, July 22, 2003