A new shape is set to loom across York's skyline as preparations are made to build a six-storey car park in the heart of the city.

The car park marks the first steps in the ambitious scheme to expand York's Coppergate Centre.

Plans have been filed for the car park on the site of the former Fiat garage in Piccadilly.

The site, next to Ryedale House, is currently in use as a car park but the proposed development is expected to expand the 0.7 acre facility to 460 spaces, complete with security cameras and lighting. It will be dedicated to short-stay shoppers and feature spaces for orange badge holders.

At 18 metres high - dwarfed by the 26-metre office block next door - the car park is unlikely to have any significant impact on the city's skyline.

A spokesman for the council planning department confirmed there is no restriction on the height of buildings in York, although each project is considered in terms of its historic surroundings.

Richard Akers of Land Securities, the firm which will construct and manage the car park, said the structure would be completed ahead of the new Coppergate development, in time to replace the Castle car park which will be built upon.Council planners will spend the next few weeks checking the plans before passing on their recommendations to a meeting of the Planning and Transport Committee in July.

If permission is granted, work is expected to begin in the autumn. The scheme also includes two large stores, 18 medium-sized fashion shops and 120 new flats.

A spokeswoman for the developer said: "The car park will be constructed and managed by Land Securities to a very high standard including user-friendly circulation, good lighting, provision for orange badge holders and a high level of security including CCTV coverage."

Plans are already in the pipeline to alter the junction of Piccadilly and Fishergate to take account of increased traffic in the area.

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