RAPID growth of new homes in York was today branded a "gold rush", leaving some parts of the city "claustrophobic".

York Civic Trust chief Darrell Buttery also condemned massive redevelopment plans for Hungate.

He claimed blueprints for 720 homes began to resemble the towering "Manhattan waterfront" in New York.

The housing scheme revived fears over-developed York was "reaching for the sky", Mr Buttery said.

Commenting in the trust's annual report, he welcomed the Government decision to ditch the controversial Coppergate II scheme, despite City of York Council's backing.

He warned: "The gold rush to build flats continues apace. They mushroom in unlikely places, even back yards.

"Designs are often uninspiring and they are never given enough amenity space.

"What will happen when all these pockets of land have disappeared?

"York is not well-endowed with green spaces, already its streets are choked with parked cars. Some areas of the city feel decidedly claustrophobic."

His comments came as plans for nearly 40 new flats in Lawrence Street - including 24 at doomed nursing home Laurens Manor - go before the council next Thursday.

Mr Buttery said Coppergate II rejection was the highlight of the civic watchdog's year.

He said the Government's rejection should serve as a "salutary lesson" to council planners.

He said: "Conservation is not an 'optional extra' and must be an integrated aspect of all planning matters in such an important historic city as York.

"Failure to observe this lesson has been a frustrating, time consuming and very costly exercise for all the parties involved and must not happen again."

But Geoff Goodwill, of Hungate (York) Regeneration, said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the trust's misleading reference to a "Manhattan" skyline.

"No building within our proposed development is higher than the adjacent Rowntree Wharf. We would barely describe that as a skyscraper."

Some 2,000 people attended a public exhibition in January. "By looking at scale models of the development for themselves they could see claims about 'skyscrapers' in our scheme, were and still remain, unfounded."

Hungate plans, tabled last November, are now due to go before the council next March.

Meanwhile, Lib Dem planing executive member Ann Reid defended the council's planning record.

Coun Reid said its policy on new developments was a bid to boost the economy of the city by meeting housing needs and regenerating brownfield sites.

She said a report on Coppergate II was due before the council executive early next year. This, she said, would raise a number of issues relating to the trust's concerns.

Updated: 09:41 Saturday, December 06, 2003