Council chiefs 'still hopeful' over York chocolate factory regeneration scheme » Communities » 24dash.com

Council chiefs are still hopeful that a multimillion-pound scheme to redevelop the Terry's chocolate factory in York could go ahead despite the latest plans being thrown out.

Councillors scrapped the proposals after a four-hour City of York Council planning meeting on Thursday night in which doubts were raised over the detail of the plans.

Developers Grantside had put forward the plans to build businesses, hotels, a health centre and new homes on the Bishopthorpe Road site, which would have created 2,000 jobs.

The £185 million project had the backing of council officers and the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Chair of the planning committee, Councillor Richard Watson, said: "Everyone on the council is aware that the site needs to be redeveloped.
Nobody wants to see it derelict.

"There is potential for a lot of housing and a lot of jobs and we do not want to stand in the way of that.

"The main concern was that of over-development on the site. Members were very concerned as to the amount of traffic in the area that would have come about as a result of the development.

"We were also worried about the impact on the listed buildings and surrounding conservation area.

The location of the proposed new housing was another area of concern. Councillors were worried that existing housing on the north and east of the site could become isolated after the development.

Councillor Watson said: "We gave a huge amount of consideration to the application. There is a lot of skill and experience on the planning committee and we felt there wasn't a sufficient amount of detail in the proposed plans give it the green light.

"I would hope that Grantside would take on board the comments that the council has made. We would most certainly be open to an amended scheme."

The factory was closed in September 2005 after more than a century of chocolate making in York by Terry's.