THE people of York will get their first opportunity to take an in-depth look at the £60 million plans to transform part of the city centre at the beginning of next month.

The detailed plans for the proposed Coppergate Riverside development will go on show at a public exhibition in the former York Story Museum in St Mary's, Coppergate, during the first two weeks in July.

The exhibition will be open daily - including Saturdays and Sundays - from 10am to 4pm between Monday, July 3, and Sunday, July 16.

Public consultation on the proposals has now begun and comments should be made to City of York Council by July 24.

The company behind the development scheme, which includes demolishing the Ryedale Building in Piccadilly, redeveloping the car park next to Clifford's Tower and creating new walkways along the River Foss, is Land Securities, the owners of the present Coppergate Centre.

Its assistant director, Richard Akers, said: "We want as many York people as possible to visit the exhibition to see the plans for themselves and let us know what they think about them."

He added: "Our previous proposals for the Castle-Piccadilly area, submitted in 1998, did not gain the support of the public or the council. This prompted us to appoint new architects in Chapman Taylor, return to the drawing board and come forward with a totally new development.

"The new plans focus on the River Foss, while addressing the crucial issue of proximity to Clifford's Tower, with the frontages of proposed buildings now aligning with Castlegate.

"The nearest building will be more than 83 feet away from the mound at the base of the base of the tower - some 33 feet further away than the proposed building line in the previous application."

Mr Akers said: "As long-term investors in the York, we know that this scheme, in such a sensitive area of the city, has to be right.

"We have listened to what people had to say about the previous plans and learned from that experience.

"We hope that we now have a development that can gain wide-ranging approval and we will be listening very closely to what people have to say about the Coppergate Riverside proposals."

The Coppergate Riverside plans are also available for inspection at City of York Council's planning office at 9 St Leonard's Place during office hours.

PICTURE: An impression of the plans for the Coppergate redevelopment