RESEARCHERS at the University of York are set to get new and improved facilities if plans for an £11.5 million development are given the go-ahead.

A planning application has been submitted to City of York Council to build a new three-storey chemistry department at the university's Heslington site.

The scheme will provide scientific research teams with much-needed space and allow the installation of up-to-the-minute equipment.

It is part of the ongoing redevelopment of the University of York, which includes a new research library and upgraded student accommodation.

If the chemistry department plans are approved the demolition of the existing single-storey building, along with the neighbouring water tower, could start this autumn.

The new building could then be fully occupied by March 2004.

University spokeswoman Hilary Layton said £8.5 million of the cost has been met by a grant from the government's Special Research Infrastructure Fund (SRIF) along with contributions from the university's own funds.

She said: "Research groups are expanding all the time and they need more space, new equipment and better facilities.

"Some of these buildings are 30 to 40 years old and when you are talking about scientific research that's quite significant.

"This is part of a major development plan on campus. We have got new buildings going up at the moment.

"It's a massive programme and the chemistry building is one part of it.

"The building will replace our current single-storey 'D' block and will house over 100 researchers working in two major research groups, the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Group and the Analytical Chemistry Group.

"The work of both these groups brings significant benefit to industry, particularly in the area of new drug development."

The planning application is likely to be decided at committee level.

Updated: 12:19 Friday, February 22, 2002