Monks Cross expansion agreed

Members of City of York Council's planning committee agreed to grant outline permission to an application by the Monks Cross Partnership to extend the business park by 10.5 hectares.

But councillors last night agreed that a stretch of former railway land that runs through the site would be protected for five years.

This was to allow enough time for a feasibility study into the possible reopening of the disused rail route from York to Beverley.

They also altered one of the conditions put forward in a report by development control officer Mick Britton to ensure that the site is used for "premier employment" - jobs operating in a high-tech sector, or linked to research.

Committee vice-chairman Coun Ann Reid explained that the council's consultants had specifically identified the need for such employment - which would include Science City York jobs - in the area.

She said: "The committee recognises the need for premiere employment land, particularly to meet the needs of the Science City.

"We tightened up the conditions to ensure that this is what will go on this land."

Mr Britton said in his report that there were "very special circumstances" surrounding the application, and concluded it would not harm the purposes of the Green Belt.

An additional survey is also to be carried out on the land to ensure the protection of some great crested newts, which live in the area.

At the same meeting, councillors decided to defer plans for an expansion of the Tesco store at Clifton Moor.

The company had applied to extend the front of the store by 12 metres, providing an additional 1,453 square metres of food floor space and 45 square metres of non-food floor space.

But Coun Richard Watson, chairing the meeting, said small technical details in the application meant it had been deferred for a future planning meeting.

Councillors were also concerned at a potential reduction in pedestrian access to the supermarket.

Updated: 12:15 Friday, July 23, 2004