A PROMINENT York building, which has been used as a supermarket for more than 35 years, could be demolished under plans for a new Kwik Save store.

Somerfield, owners of Kwik Save, and property developers Caddick, want to replace the store in Hull Road with a new building and create a block of 21 apartments on the shop's car park.

A joint planning application has been lodged with City of York Council planners, which will come before councillors next month, at the earliest.

Jamie Sitzia, PR officer for Somerfield and Kwik Save, confirmed the application had been made.

He said: "Until planning approval has been passed we will not discuss any details on proposed building plans or closure time.

"If the redevelopment does go ahead, then staff will transfer over to the new store with as little disruption as possible."

The Evening Press understands the proposed store would be 13,000sq ft in size, slightly smaller than the existing 16,000sq ft building, which dates from about 1908.

There would be an L-shaped, three-storey residential block to the rear, currently home to a large, under-used car park, which would house 21 two-bedroom flats.

The building was originally constructed as an engineering works, but was used for many years as a print works and was said to have housed prisoners of war during the First World War.

One of the longest-established supermarkets in York, it became the country's first Hillards store when it opened for business in October 1968.

"The Yorkshire-based family firm previously traded under the name of Lion Supermarket and Lion Stores.

A feature in the Evening Press about the Hillards store said it had been "probably the ugliest building in York" prior to renovation by the company.

The store changed hands in 1987 as part of Tesco's £200 million buy-out of Hillards, and again a year later, when it was purchased by William Jackson and Son for its Grandways brand.

Kwik Save became the latest owner of the property in 1992, when William Jackson and Son decided to switch their business from supermarkets to convenience stores.

Bristol-based retailer Somerfield bought Kwik Save in 1998 and operates more than 1,250 stores nationwide.

It has refurbished Kwik Save stores in Thirsk and Foxwood this year, as part of a £70 million national investment programme.

Updated: 08:28 Thursday, November 04, 2004