STONEGATE is one of York's busiest streets. Yet only a few of the shoppers who swarm along it ever take a detour into Stonegate Walk.

Now a £5 million redevelopment aims to make the arcade visible. Owners Oakgate believe that it can guarantee the site's prosperity by replacing 23 small shops with three larger ones.

A number of high profile retailers are apparently interested in moving in. This must be good news at a time when the Coppergate inquiry is hearing how York needs to attract more and better shops if it is to compete with other retail centres.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, January 28, 2002