A sneak preview of a £25 million urban village in York will be put before the public this week.

Developers behind the ambitious project to regenerate disused industrial land off Leeman Road will be on hand at an open exhibition to answer questions and hear any concerns.

The scheme, which is being proposed by KeyLand Developments, the National Railway Museum (NRM) and the College of Ripon and York St John, includes

* 50,000 square feet of office space and community shopping

* A four-star hotel

* A new residential campus for 650 students from the College of Ripon and York St John

* Landscaping of adjoining NRM land.

And it is hoped the project, to be known as Bishops Fields, will create 500 jobs.

David Brimblecombe, managing director of KeyLand Developments, said: "The partners in this project are committed to consultation and dialogue with the local community and their representatives.

"This process will ensure that the benefits this exciting proposal will bring to the area are fully understood, and enable us to hear first hand the comments and concerns of any party who has an interest in these development proposals."

The site of the planned urban village was previously a concrete works until production ceased about 15 years ago, and the land was purchased by the NRM in March.

Mr Brimblecombe said: "The partners in this project believe the proposals will make a significant contribution to the continued regeneration of the Leeman Road area that will bring real benefits both for the local community and the city of York."

A planning application has been submitted to City of York Council and the developers hope for a decision on the proposals by February 2001.

And if the scheme gets the go-ahead, they expect to start construction in March.

* The exhibition will be held at the National Railway Museum (visitors' car park entrance) on Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.