A DECISION on York’s landmark community stadium project could be delayed for up to six months after transport bosses raised concerns over the impact on local roads.

The Highways Agency has written to City of York Council to say “outstanding matters” regarding transport issues and the local road network must be addressed before the £90 million stadium and shopping development at Monks Cross can be approved.

Developers Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd want to build new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores and a 6,000-seater venue for York City FC and York City Knights, and the application was to have been considered shortly.

But the “holding directive” issued by the agency, on behalf of Transport Secretary Justine Greening, means a decision could potentially be delayed until September. Both the city council and Oakgate’s planning consultants said they hoped the highways issues would be addressed before then.

But Coun Dave Merrett, the council’s cabinet member for city strategy, said it had “long been clear” there were “potential issues” at the nearby Hopgrove roundabout, linking Malton Road and York’s outer ring road with the A64.

He said he was “disappointed” these had not yet been resolved by the developers, but said he too was hopeful that any delay would be “considerably less” than six months.

Oakgate has said the new stores would create 1,000 new jobs and inject an extra £12 million a year into York’s economy, while York City FC has said the new stadium is crucial to ensuring the club’s future.

But opponents of the scheme, including city-centre traders, have claimed it would force businesses in the heart of York to close or move.

Richard Woodford, of consultants HOW Planning, said: “The holding directive issued by the Highways Agency reflects the complexity of this application and the need for our highways consultants, Arup, to continue to work closely with the agency and City of York Council’s highways department.

“Once a solution is agreed, this directive can be lifted at any time. We are keen to ensure the proposed solution has minimal impact on the surrounding highway network.”

The council’s director of city strategy, Bill Woolley, stressed the notice was “standard practice in large and complex applications”, was not an objection to the scheme and could be lifted at any time.

York City director Sophie Hicks said: “This doesn’t necessarily mean the application will be delayed and we have confidence the specialists working with the Highways Agency will provide all the information they need and a positive outcome will be secured.”

Meanwhile, the Knights’ chairman, John Guildford, said: “if there is a delay, I’m certain the council will let us know about it when they’re ready.”

But York Chamber of Trade chairman Adam Sinclair, one of the leading critics of the Monks Cross plans, said: “It’s becoming clear these proposals conflict with York’s sustainability, clean air and Local Development Framework agendas, and the outer ring road is of even greater concern.

“It would be much better to nurture the city from within, for John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and small independent businesses to thrive in the city centre and for the same money being spent on this scheme to be spent on York City’s current Bootham Crescent ground.”