YORK Racecourse today unveiled an exciting £20 million project for a new County Stand, promising a new era of luxury for punters.

The project, which is subject to planning permission from City of York Council, will replace the existing 1965 stand with a new five-storey building, with increased viewing and seating areas as well as more bar space and toilets.

Demolition of the current stand and building of the new one is expected to begin this autumn, with work continuing through to an official opening in time for the 2003 racing season.

York Race Committee said it needs to meet the growing demands of customer expectations for York as a major sporting venue.

Commenting on the development, chairman of the York Race Committee, Lord Halifax, said: "We want to make the experience of racing at York as good as possible. This means a clear view of the track and easy access to something to eat and drink.

"We've delivered that with the Knavesmire stand, now we want to offer it to our County Stand racegoers and Annual Members."

John Smith, clerk of the course and project manager, said: "It's another exciting time for York and emphasises the determination of the committee to provide top class facilities to match the high quality of horses that York attracts.

"We hope that we can count on the patience and support of everyone involved as we set out to achieve this objective."

The final plans have been kept under close wraps until today, after last week's announcement of a request to extend the Gimcrack Rooms.

A spokesman for the racecourse said that the development was unlikely to cause any major disruption to the surrounding roads if given the green light.

"The site is in the middle of racecourse property, and we are experienced in building within our own area, so it is not believed there will be any significant problems with construction access."

The spokesman could not confirm any increase in jobs on the new project, aside from those associated with the construction contract, but added: "The more appealing you make the racecourse to the people who want to come to it, the more staff you will need to help them enjoy it."

An announcement of plans for the first stage of the development, for the Gimcrack Rooms, was put before City of York Council, and reported in the Evening Press, last week.

Councillors have been asked to allow an extension to the Rooms, which will allow a larger kitchen needed to accommodate the expansion.

The last major enterprise to take place at the Racecourse was the multi-million pound Knavesmire Stand, which opened in 1996.

The £11.5 million award winning stand has a capacity of 16,000 and was designed by the same Leeds-based practice as has designed the latest project, Goddard Wybor Practice.

Updated: 15:34 Monday, March 26, 2001