PLANS for the £20 million new County Stand at York's Racecourse have been given the green light by councillors.

The entire project, which is being referred to the Government for final approval, is expected to be completed in time for the 2003 racing season.

Builders have already begun work on the Knavesmire site, with a new kitchen for the Gimcrack Restaurant at the back of the old County Stand, as well as an upgrade to the press room.

Architects of the new 4,500-capacity stand are Leeds-based Goddard Wybor Practice, who designed the last major enterprise at the racecourse - the 16,000-capacity, £11.5 million, award-winning Knavesmire Stand, which opened in 1996.

The existing 1965 County Stand will be demolished at the end of this racing season and replaced by a new larger stand, opposite the winning post

John Goddard, a partner in the practice, spoke at the planning committee meeting yesterday and said that that the current stand was "sad and very dated".

He said: "The existing facilities were very substandard and will have an impact on York Racecourse if they are not replaced."

The five-storey building will include bars, sponsors' boxes, toilets and a shaded terraced area and will increase the capacity of the existing County Stand by 1,200.

Councillors unanimously approved the plans, subject to the implementation of a green travel plan, which involves encouraging racecourse users and staff to use public transport. Another condition is the payment of £5,000 towards highway safety, at the junction of Campleshon Road and Bishopthorpe Road.

Coun Dave Merrett, chair of the meeting, said: "Clearly the Racecourse is an extremely valuable asset to the city with the number of visitors it attracts.

"The County Stand is looking somewhat sad now."

Updated: 14:29 Friday, August 24, 2001