PLANS to tear down the derelict centre of a York estate and build affordable housing in its place will be put on show next month.

Residents living around Bramham Road, in Chapelfields, York, will see designs for 12 homes on the Sanderson House site - and will be asked for ideas on how to develop the neighbouring Chapelfields Community Centre.

The area, which has been likened to "Beirut" by residents, has been a popular target for vandals.

"Redevelopment of the area is moving forward, which is very good news for all those who have had to put up with vandalism and anti-social behaviour associated with the Sanderson House site," said Councillor Ruth Potter, City of York Council's executive member for housing.

But the council's Liberal Democrat leader, Steve Galloway, criticised the authority for taking too long to transform the area and said the building should have been demolished months ago.

He said: "Our surveys reveal that nearly 90 per cent of Chapelfields residents want Sanderson House to be demolished as quickly as possible, yet the council has dithered and nearby residents are still the target for vandals who are attracted to the boarded-up building.

"Many residents find the lack of any kind of shop in the estate a major handicap and it seems that they will have to wait until the community centre phase of the scheme, which could be 12 months away from completion, before essential community facilities are restored."

He said the Liberal Democrats were delivering newsletters in the area this weekend, urging residents to demand a final timetable stating when all the works will be completed.

The Sanderson House plans have been drawn up by Tees Valley Housing Group and propose ten three-bedroom homes and two withfour bedrooms.

Ideas already put forward for the community centre site include:

Refurbishing the centre

Building a new community house

Providing a new shop

Building more affordable homes

Keeping open space.

Leaflets about the exhibition of plans were being delivered to residents this weekend, with it taking place in the community centre on Tuesday, between 1.30pm and 8pm.

Updated: 09:43 Saturday, August 24, 2002