THE hunt for spare development land in York city centre is still hotting up, as it emerged today that a disused toilet block is the latest prime site for development into flats.

The derelict, vandal-hit block, near Monk Bar car park, off Lord Mayor's Walk, was sold off by City of York Council after it closed and became a haunt for drug users.

But now the former award-winning building looks set to be demolished and converted into handy city centre housing.

Kevin Hollinrake, director of Hunters estate agents in York, said: "This is the way the things are in the city at the moment.

"There's not enough greenfield land being released to build on and this is one way of getting around it."

He said: "I suppose you could call this the ultimate brownfield development!"

Mr Hollinrake said it was good news that eyesore areas were being snapped up and made more attractive by imaginative developers.

John Walker, of Wrigley Property Development, which plans to build the flats for owner Susan Wrigley, said the flats would probably be rented.

"They will be little one-bedroom units - ideal if you work in the city centre. It's only a short walk from the city walls."

Rawcliffe councillor Mark Waudby was part of the scrutiny committee that investigated ways of cleaning up the area.

He said: "A lot of people use that car park and it's not the best thing to see when you first get into York.

"If these plans are approved, it will be an improvement." The toilet plans, recommended for approval by officers, go before city councillors on June 3.

The toilet block shot to fame as York's first privatised loo. It scooped an Evening Press award, but it shut and was later boarded up after punters baulked at paying 20p to spend a penny, with some preferring to water nearby bushes.

Updated: 10:09 Saturday, May 29, 2004