YORK'S Barbican Centre looks set to be demolished when City of York Council sells off the site.

A senior City of York councillor said today all economically viable bids for the site would include demolishing it.

But they all propose new swimming, health and fitness centres.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway said new housing also figured in virtually all bids.

Since the centre went up for sale in July, 11 offers have been received by the council.

"The bids are many and various," said Coun Galloway.

"A common element is housing. Student accommodation features in several of them. The proposals which would create the greatest income involve the most dramatic change to the site."

The Barbican Centre was put up for sale after City of York Council announced it could not afford to continue funding swimming on the site, which needed major redevelopment.

It spends £660,000 a year to subsidise it.

Developers were told public swimming facilities must feature in their plans after a public outcry, headed by the Evening Press Save Our Swim campaign, over earlier plans to close it.

But Coun Galloway said only two bids included an auditorium. The Barbican is York's largest entertainment venue.

Coun Galloway said: "We are now expecting to go back to bidders to say they must include an auditorium."

A report into the sale, published today, suggests plans to sell land around the Barbican Centre while keeping swimming provision under council control would not be economically viable

The highest bid for Kent Street Car and Coach Park is only £2 million.

But the cost of providing a similar pool to that already in use would be £3.9 million, with an extra £2.21 million needed for refurbishment.

It means the car and coach park would need to be sold in a package with the actual building, suggesting a huge development venture in the centre of York.

John Urwin, the council's property consultant, said: "There is no business case for selling the car and coach park complex, unless it is included within the whole Barbican Centre redevelopment scheme."

The council names the 11 bidders in the report, although full details of their plans have not been disclosed publicly.

Councillors meeting next Friday are expected to cut them down to only five, which will be asked to submit more detailed plans for the site.

They are expected to be:

* Town Centre and KW Linfoot

* Taylor Woodrow Property

* S Harrison Developments Ltd

* The Barbican Venture

* Landmark Development Projects.

The successful scheme is expected to be chosen by a committee of five councillors, including the leaders of all of York's political parties represented on the council.

Mr Urwin said: "Members will be aware the future of the Barbican Centre has generated public interest and debate.

"It is therefore suggested, as part of the process in selecting the preferred developer, that the public and stakeholders are consulted on the nominated schemes in order to assist members in making the final decision on which scheme to select."

The council's current timetable means the new scheme would be completed by the middle of 2005.

Council leader Rod Hills said: "We are now entering a crucial phase with a number of viable and exciting proposals for Barbican redevelopment, each of which could feasibly deliver the kind of 21st century swimming, leisure and other entertainment facilities we are looking to deliver for the residents of York."

Updated: 11:05 Friday, January 04, 2002