MORE than 100 new flats and town houses could be built on a former York university site if planning councillors give its demolition the green light.

Bellway Homes has put forward a scheme to redevelop the York St John College Croft Campus by converting its listed buildings into nine homes and demolishing the others to make way for 123 apartments.

The college's all-weather sports pitch and the York Gymnastics Centre will be retained with a new access to the site from Heworth Green.

Officers are recommending the scheme, which is near to the proposed home/office development on the site of a former gasworks, for approval - subject to 36 conditions.

A report from Hannah Blackburn, City of York Council's development control officer, said improvements could be made to the scheme by retaining mature trees and reducing the impact on neighbours but, she writes: "the scheme as submitted is considered to be acceptable".

Council chiefs received only four letters of objection from Heworth residents. One felt that the development would have a "horrific impact on Heworth Green".

Another said the height and size of the buildings would be out of place in Heworth and that York was being grossly overdeveloped with too many flats.

But York Civic Trust said the scheme would "enhance" the conservation area, while North Yorkshire Police encouraged the developer to ensure appropriate lighting was installed.

Many of the thefts recorded at the former college, 38 in a 12-month period to September 2003, came from unattended vehicles.

If the flats scheme is granted, the developer will have to pay more than £200,000 towards foundation and secondary education provision, a further £26,000 for off-site provision of sports facilities and £21,000 towards the establishment and running of a car-sharing club.

Twenty-five per cent of the homes will be classed as affordable, with 23 of those available for rent and ten discount-for-sale properties.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, February 21, 2005