COUNCIL chiefs hope to unveil the location for Arc Light's new York home on May 2.

But councillors on City of York Council's ruling executive will have their first chance to run the rule over the four sites which have made the shortlist for the homeless charity's new shelter on March 21.

The Evening Press reported on Friday, that council car parks in Nunnery Lane, Marygate and Union Terrace, as well as the former Reynard's Garage in Piccadilly have been selected as potential new homes.

Council bosses had previously launched a consultation exercise on 36 possible sites in and around the city centre.

Bill Hodson, acting director of commercial services, says detailed analysis could be drawn up on all the short listed sites to allow members to "make an objective comparison against the agreed criteria", with a report then being brought back to the executive proposing the recommended site.

On Marygate and Union Terrace car parks, Mr Hodson says there are "no significant obstacles" to building a new Arc Light centre, with the challenges being, respectively, the need to not interfere with the car park and respecting boundaries. At Nunnery Lane, English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture And The Built Environment will need to be consulted on the building's design with "full consideration" given to archaeology on the site.

At the former Reynard's Garage, Mr Hodson says the site was next to the Castle Piccadilly regeneration area with any building needing to be "sensitive" and providing a "high-quality design solution". He says: "A decision on this site is probably premature within the planning policy context of a significant regeneration scheme at Castle Piccadilly."

Council chiefs are proposing to consult residents in the areas of the shortlisted sites through ward committees rather than leafleting in the immediate area and holding a central exhibition - as happened in the failed Shipton Street School application.

Updated: 09:43 Tuesday, March 14, 2006