THE York Open Planning Forum will hold an open meeting on Thursday to look at the results of the consultation carried out last year on the future development of the Castle Piccadilly area.

The process was initiated by the city council with the intention of arriving at a consensus over the guiding principles to inform the production of a new planning brief for the site.

It was conducted by an independent facilitator with a so-called reference group of people involved with the previous Coppergate proposals and included an open day for the wider public to put forward their ideas.

The report of the facilitator on the outcomes of the consultation was considered by the council executive on February 1, when it was accepted.

The way is now open for the preparation of a new draft planning brief for the site, based on principles defined through the consultation process. The full report is available on the council's website at www.york.gov.uk/planning.

The Open Planning Forum on Thursday will provide an opportunity for some of those who took part in the consultation to report back on the outcomes of the process.

The meeting will be held at Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, and will start at 7.30pm. Non members of the forum are welcome to attend.

Alison Sinclair,

Chair,

York Open Planning Forum,

Norfolk Street, York.

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, February 22, 2005