PLANS to turn a furniture store and car park in York's Piccadilly into 14 flats and a new shop look set to be thrown out.

Planning officers say the scheme to refurbish and redevelop 34 Piccadilly - which currently houses Greens furniture shop and parking in the basement - would prejudice a "masterplan" for the comprehensive redevelopment of the whole Castle Piccadilly site.

They are urging City of York Council's city centre area planning sub-committee to refuse permission to the building's owner, Martin Burgess.

But the recommendation has infuriated Mr Burgess, who believes the scheme for the building, which stands alongside the River Foss, could be a starting point for the redevelopment of the run-down area.

He told the Evening Press that people visiting York could not believe how buildings within spitting distance of the city centre could be in such a state. "It's awful, terrible," he said.

He said he feared the area would be left to stagnate for many more years before a full redevelopment could go ahead. "Meanwhile, I have got a roof that's leaking like a sieve."

He warned that if councillors went along with the recommendation, he would go to appeal, and he had been advised he would have a very good chance of winning, with the council facing costs.

The new planning brief and masterplan is being drawn up after the massive scheme for the redevelopment of land between Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly was thrown out by the Government, following a lengthy public inquiry.

A report to councilors by development control officer Rachel Tyas said the council's urban design and conservation department views Mr Burgess's proposal, seen on its own, as a well-designed scheme. She said:"However, it must be seen in the wider context of the emerging Castle Piccadilly Brief, and therefore this application is premature."

"The council is seeking to ensure that the development of the Coppergate/Piccadilly site is properly and comprehensively considered through the production of a new planning brief and master plan for the area.

"Prior to the agreement of these documents, the consideration of individual proposals for the redevelopment of parts of the area would be prejudicial.

"Approval of this application would weaken the council's case for resisting other individual development proposals at the Castle/Piccadilly site, prior to the brief and masterplan being prepared."

Updated: 08:34 Monday, May 09, 2005