A thousand jobs will be created in York in the next four months with the opening of a giant new shopping complex on the northern edge of the city.

Developers are aiming to have the Monks Cross centre, boasting leading High Street fashion shops, open by the August Bank Holiday weekend.

However, York's Labour MP, Hugh Bayley, today warned that the growth of out-of-town development threatened city centre shops.

It follows a report in yesterday's Evening Press by an American expert who said out-of-town shopping creates a "drive-through society" which could kill off market towns.

But leading city centre retailer, Nick Brown, managing director of Brown's department store, said the current flurry of retail development in the York area was great news for the city - creating a shopping mecca to rival Leeds.

Mr Bayley said: "I welcome all new investment and jobs, but this will put further pressure on York's beleaguered city centre.

"When out-of-town supermarkets arrived, those in the city centre closed.

"If we have large out-of-town chains of shoes and clothes shops, it increases pressure on city centre stores.

"I think landlords in the city centre need to review their rents and bring them down to keep businesses viable in the city centre because otherwise there will be empty shops."

However, Mr Brown predicted a brighter future, with York rivalling Leeds in terms of drawing shoppers from along the A64 corridorHe said: "It is going to be a different shopping environment to the city centre. York seems to be in a boom. York is going to be a very big growth area.

"We used to lose a little bit of customer base to Leeds. That leakage will now be stopped. There is a clear choice now between Leeds and York."

Meanwhile, Monks Cross developers face a race against time to recruit an estimated 1,000 full and part-time posts for the 260,000 sq ft development at Huntington. A further 1,500 jobs will be created by the opening of the £60million designer outlet village on the former Naburn Hospital site at Fulford, in October.

Lesley Marsh, spokeswoman for the development, said the centre was in discussions with the Jobcentre in York to set up a data base to find the right staff.

There will also be three restaurant/cafes at Monks Cross.

Miss Marsh said: "We want to make sure we get the best possible staff, as quickly as possible. People are going to be very interested in the scheme. It is going to be a great place to work." She admitted it might be a challenge to find enough staff because of the boom in retail development in the area.

But she added: "We are certainly going to get in their first to make sure we have a good selection of people."

The developers are also in discussion with local bus firms over improving public transport links with Monks Cross.

Miss Marsh said Monks Cross stores would be open longer than city centre ones - creating its own appeal.

"It will be the perfect place after work to come and have something to eat, do some general shopping and food shopping, all in one go. It takes the stress off because you can go at off-peak times."

But she denied it would have an impact on city centre trade.

"The shopping being offered at Monks Cross is completely different to what is currently available in York. York thrives on offering speciality shopping, more unusual and distinctive shopping.

Shops heading for Monks Cross:

Retailers going to Monks Cross are PC World, C & J Clark, Allsports, Laura Ashley, Suits Direct, Burtons (Arcadia Group, plc, including Burtons Menswear), Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Principles, Top Shop, Sears (The Outfit, including Adams, Wallis and Warehouse) Woolworth's, Stylo Barratt, JD Sports, and Boots The Chemists

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