LANDOWNERS have urged councillors not to stand in the way of a major development expected to create 600 jobs in York.

Officers from City of York Council have recommended that plans for a hotel and blocks of offices and student accommodation on the "teardrop" site, between York railway station and Leeman Road, should be refused.

But a spokesman for the landowners, Keyland Development, has asked councillors to act against the recommendation for the good of the city.

He said: "This scheme would inject £25 million into an important area of York, creating 600 jobs and really kick-starting other development of the teardrop site."

The application affects only a tiny part of the complete 60 hectare site, which the council has welcomed as a "once in a Millennium" opportunity for development which it is hoped will create 6,000 new jobs and 3,000 homes.

And, if the first application is refused, it will send out negative messages to others looking at the area, the spokesman said.

"There is nothing like investment to start other investment," he said.

"If this is refused, it certainly wouldn't project a message that this is an area of York that is friendly to developers."

The scheme has been recommended for refusal because the offices and accommodation, which would serve students at the College of Ripon and York St John, would be built in seven-storey blocks, which are considered by the council to be too high.

That section of the land has also been earmarked for housing.

The spokesman added: "This would be absolutely first class for the existing National Railway Museum because it would increase numbers of visitors by putting a hotel next to it, and it would create excellent accommodation very close to the college.

"We would call on members of the planning committee to see sense and back this application."

The committee meets to discuss the plans on Thursday.

Coun Derek Smallwood, the council's planning spokesman, said: "Officers recommend and members decide, so we could go against this recommendation if that is what we decide to do.

"I have to look closely at all the papers and will judge this application on its merits on Thursday.

"But we do have to consider its effect on the whole site, because there is a bigger prize to be had. It feels to me that this is like building an annex before the main building has gone up."

Updated: 12:08 Tuesday, March 27, 2001