A MAJOR new shopping centre on the site of the rejected Coppergate II proposal is still the way forward if York is to benefit from retail expansion, the city council's leader says.

Coun Steve Galloway said he believed that independent advice would show that Piccadilly was still the best place to house new shopping facilities in the city.

He was speaking as City of York Council prepared to welcome Andrew Ogg, the vice-president of the British Council of Shopping Centres, to a meeting of the economic development and community safety scrutiny board on Tuesday.

Mr Ogg is expected to tell councillors that retail developments in city centres can help councils attract people to shop in those areas. In a recent report, Mr Ogg said the "delivery of modern retail premises is fundamental" to the drive to create intense focus on towns and cities.

He added that principles of retail-led regeneration "based on attributes that previously attracted people to shopping centres are being utilised to attract them to town and city centres".

Coun Galloway said: "York needs more city centre retail space in order to compete with out-of-town developments. This still holds true. If we are to get further independent advice which confirms that, it will make the case for shopping in Piccadilly even stronger. Whether Land Securities (which owns the Piccadilly site) can develop a scheme in a way that doesn't constrict the car park remains to be seen. But they are working very hard. This gives more strength to the cause. At least one more major department store is required to sustain shoppers' interest in the city."

Coppergate II was thrown out by the Government, who said the plans were not appropriate for the historic Clifford's Tower area.

Updated: 09:44 Saturday, October 25, 2003