THE University of York's huge new campus would be environmentally-friendly and in a beautiful parkland setting, under new plans unveiled today.

The draft development brief, subject to consultation and possible change, is aimed at continuing the university's successful status, respecting the environment and being sensitive towards the nearby Heslington and Badger Hill communities.

Plans for the 67 hectare site, south of Field Lane, are based on a number of guiding principles.

These include a requirement that the site has the parkland setting, sensitive to green belt surroundings, sharing of facilities with the public is encouraged and that its design is sensitive to nearby communities while maximising "green" potential.

As the current campus, water is to play a major role on the new site and a lake will be built towards the south of the site.

Open space fronting on to Field Lane would be used as parkland for the whole community, and views of the city and surrounding area from Kimberlow Hill would be protected. Nick Allen, chairman of Heslington Village Trust, said the trust did not object to the principle of university expansion.

"It is linked strongly to York's economic development," he said.

But Mr Allen said the trust did have concerns about the size of the proposed development and its possible impact on Heslington.

He said: "It will have a significant impact on the village and there is a worry about Heslington being overwhelmed, physically and socially. We will be looking at the brief very carefully and continuing with our consultation."

University spokeswoman Hilary Layton said today: "The Development Brief outlines the guiding principles for potential development. The university would like to develop the site in order to sustain its top ten position amongst UK universities, which it cannot do without growth.

"The university is vital to York's prosperity, contributing about £120 million a year to the local economy. "Our success is inextricably linked with York and North Yorkshire's success,so our expansion must harmonise with other plans and developments in and around York."

Heslington ward councillor Ceredig Jamieson-Ball stressed the brief was a draft and could be subject to change. He said: "The important thing is to get the consultation right. These are not final plans, they are to establish the principle of the development.

"I would encourage people who want to comment, support or object to the plans as laid out in the draft development brief to do so at this stage."

The brief will go before City of York Council's main planning committee on Thursday, from 4.30pm.

Once it has been debated and approved by city planning chiefs it will go out to public consultation.

Updated: 10:31 Friday, July 18, 2003