York city centre's biggest shopping development for 20 years was unveiled today.

The £60 million extension to the Coppergate Centre will feature the city's biggest store - a 100,000 square foot department store on three storeys.

The retail development, filling the neglected area between Clifford's Tower, the Castle Museum and Piccadilly, will also boast:

750 parking spaces in two car parks - more than compensating for the loss of 330 spaces at the existing Castle Car Park - plus parking for 490 cycles.

Almost 120 new flats, in Piccadilly and above the new shops.

A new super-wide bridge over the River Foss, providing a square suitable for live entertainment, and a new riverside walk along the Foss.

Two large stores and 18 medium-sized shops selling fashion goods.

A 15,000 square foot extension to Fenwicks department store.

The project is seen as the city centre's answer to tough competition from out-of-town retailers at Clifton Moor, Monks Cross and Naburn.

Ninety million pounds is being invested this year in the Monks Cross Retail Park and another £60 million in the Naburn Factory Outlets Centre.

Millions more are being spent on re-developing the Davygate Arcade and building new shops in Davygate, taking the total retail investment in the York area towards an astonishing quarter of a billion pounds.

Coppergate Phase Two, at 240,000 square feet, is one-and-a- half times bigger than the first phase, built 20 years ago.

Developers Land Securities are submitting a planning application to City of York Council and say that, subject to permission being granted this summer, work will start this autumn on building a new multi-storey car park in Piccadilly.

The shops development will take a further two years to build, with completion scheduled for March 2001.

There will be underground parking under the stores planned to front on to Piccadilly, and new pedestrian links between the existing Coppergate Centre and the Eye of York, and between Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly. The name of the new department store has not yet been revealed.

The junction of Piccadilly and Tower Street will be remodelled to improve accessibility and there will be improved provision for bus lay-bys.

A glazed structure fronting on to Piccadilly, which will house a restaurant, is intended by architects as a special feature.

David Curtis, assistant director of development and transport at City of York Council, welcomed the scheme, saying: "It is vitally important to strengthen the city centre's retail offer with a new department store and to procure the regeneration of the Piccadilly area."

Bob DeBarr, development director of Land Securities, said: "This second phase responds to demand from many retailers to trade in the city centre in large retail units.''

An artist's impression of a view down Piccadilly from outside the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, showing the new shopping development. The river walkway and multi-storey car park are on the extreme right of the illustration The development is shown to the left of the Castle Museum. The edge of the Clifford's Tower mound is on the extreme left

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