People power has forced the developers behind a York shopping complex to rethink their proposals.

Land Securities Properties Ltd is bowing to pressure from Evening Press readers and other members of the public who let fly a barrage of criticism over the proposed £60m Coppergate phase II development, scheduled to straddle the Foss in York city centre.

In a public consultation, about a two-thirds majority expressed their distaste for the scheme, which they claimed was cramped, too close to Clifford's Tower and "a monstrosity".

Letters of objection poured into the Evening Press, and even a developer who owns part of the site on which Land Securities wants to build has rejected the project and is preparing his own retail-leisure proposals.

Surveyor Richard Akers, of Land Securities Properties Ltd, said today: "We are looking at ways of reducing the perceived impact of our development on buildings like Clifford's Tower and we will be discussing this with planners."

He also agreed to review the detailed design of the modern architecture planned for Piccadilly which some readers had described as a "glass palace"

The Coppergate II scheme, which will include a 100,000 sq ft Debenhams department store, two other large stores and 18 shopping units plus 118 flats and the creation of 750 jobs, was attacked in the Evening Press letters columns and during public consultations.

One of the biggest criticisms was that the development would be too close to the tower and out of scale with it.

Mr Akers, who admitted to being "quite disappointed with the apparent strength of feeling", said that his company had a "strong commitment" to address the issues raised, even though many people had applauded the scheme. Over the next month, Land Securities would be working on revised plans to submit to the council.

"We will make every endeavour to ensure that it is acceptable to everyone," he said.

But the company still defends the design as being based upon sound urban design principles, with narrow streets in the development opening out on to larger spaces plus long but narrow or partially obscured views of the major buildings and monuments.

Mr Akers said: "One of the key attractions of York is the experience of turning a corner to unexpectedly discover the view of a beautiful building or vista ahead.

"It is in this way that Clifford's Tower and the Museum square will be seen when approaching from Piccadilly, the Coppergate Centre or Castlegate.

"From the south-east, that is Tower Street, the Tower will be set in front of the sensitive and appropriate backdrop of the Castlegate frontage which will sit comfortably between the important buildings of Fairfax House and Impressions Gallery on Castlegate and the Castle Museum."

Mr Akers said he would not respond to counter-proposals for a mixture of leisure and specialist retail suggested by Martin Burgess, managing director of Northminster Properties Ltd. Mr Burgess' company owns slightly more than half the 1.4 acres proposed by Land Securities for a new arcade and Debenhams on the Piccadilly side of the river.

But he rejected Mr Burgess' claim that Coppergate II, first conceived as a way of forestalling out-of-town retail schemes such as Monks Cross and the Naburn shopping project, was now irrelevant because developments were under way.

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