THIS is the vision of how a £100 million development could transform a chunk of wasteland inside York's city walls.

It was unveiled after a weekend at which 250 city residents debated the future of Hungate, a forgotten area of inner-city York stretching from the River Foss to Stonebow and Foss Islands Road.

A spokesman for the developer, Crosby Homes, said: "It is widely acknowledged that Hungate is a unique opportunity to create a new urban neighbourhood within the heart of the city, with its own distinct character and containing a mixture of uses that should primarily serve the neighbourhood itself."

He said the consensus at the weekend suggested that the new-look Hungate, which would comprise housing, and commercial and business premises, should consist of a number of small buildings and look to the future rather than dwell on the area's historic past.

"While the creation of some form of focal building should be encouraged for community, cultural and leisure uses, the creation of any large footprint, single-use building should be discouraged," he said.

"While the grain of the new neighbourhood should reflect and respond to the historic core, opportunities should also be created for looking to the future. The new neighbourhood should be compact in design, the car should be tamed and a high-quality pedestrian-priority public realm created.

"It was also widely felt that Hungate should become a place both to go to and pass through."

Early plans also suggest a riverside piazza beside the Foss.

The Evening Press last month exclusively revealed that the ten-acre site would be developed with the co-operation and input of local people.

Last weekend's debate will be followed by others, aiming to involve local people in every step of the development.

The spokesman said last weekend showed massive support for this approach.

"Above all, there was an overwhelming desire to see the participatory process continue in order to create a positive and on-going dialogue between the public sector, the developers and the local community," he said.

But some participants said there had not been enough opportunity for input.

Dr Keith Davis, who attended, said: "I believe there were certain issues that we wanted discussed that weren't being discussed. There was not enough opportunity to ask questions."

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, March 06, 2002