HOUSEHOLDERS are being asked to help shape a £100 million transformation of land within York's city walls.

Office, leisure and housing developments are being planned for Hungate, seen as the last area ripe for major development inside the bars.

Next month, city residents will be asked to take a central role in the scheme, which is expected to breathe new life into a forgotten part of the city.

The ten-acre Hungate site, stretching from Stonebow to Foss Islands Road and over to the River Foss, currently stands unused.

But developer Crosby Homes sees it becoming a major addition to the heart of the city within six years.

Architect John Thompson said: "With the help of local residents, we want to produce a vision for the creation of a new urban neighbourhood for York in which people can live, work and play."

City of York Council has already accepted the proposed use of the site, although designs have not yet been drawn up or firm plans developed.

Mr Thompson said that, for the first time in York, the community would be involved with every step of developing the site.

"Putting local residents at the heart of planning is central to our philosophy," he said.

"People of all ages have the opportunity to put forward their views on how they would like to see the development proceed. These views are then taken into consideration when formulating the detailed plans that are submitted to the local inquiry."

Anyone interested will be invited to take part in a community planning weekend, being held in York's Guildhall on March 1 and 2, the first of a series aimed at discovering residents' views.

He said: "The weekends ensure that the development proposals enjoy widescale support and create a genuine sense of ownership for those who have played a part in the process.

"The active engagement of local people from day one can see them help to shape their communities and gain mutually beneficial physical, social and economic change, which both respects and enhances the local environment."

Details of the community planning weekend will be circulated with the Evening Press's sister title, York Star.

Updated: 11:02 Monday, February 04, 2002