A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 30 flats and four houses on a factory site in York has been revived.

Developers who want to demolish buildings on the corner of Link Road and Huntington Road, in Huntington, have resubmitted their plans to council chiefs.

But City of York Council officers have recommended that the application be turned down - to the delight of parish councillors in Huntington.

The site, currently occupied by office furniture manufacturer Eborcraft, would see the existing buildings demolished to make way for the flats and houses. Eborcraft wants to relocate to a new site.

The application was originally withdrawn last October, with planning bosses recommending that the scheme be rejected.

This time, councillors will be looking at an amended layout for the residential scheme. But officers still say that the loss of an "employment site" is contrary to council policy.

A report to councillors attending a city planning meeting next week says the applicant had not "demonstrated through adequate marketing that the premises or site are no longer capable of meeting employment need".

It adds that the site is located next to an industrial area which, because of the potential for noise and disturbance if the properties were built, would place "unreasonable environmental demands" on those who use the industrial land.

Huntington Parish Council said the application would have a detrimental visual effect because of its size and that the area was now being "saturated" with commercial and residential development.

June Vaughan, chair of Huntington Parish Council planning committee, said the council was determined to oppose the scheme.

"Nothing has changed and the reasons that officers have put forward we agreed with totally," she said.

"What we would prefer to see is an overview of the area and how much development it can actually take. It is getting saturated.

"We hope and expect that members (of City of York Council) will support our view because of the reasons officers have given. We stand by everything we have said."

Eborcraft declined to comment when contacted by the Evening Press.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, February 10, 2005