THE Government inspector's damning report on Coppergate II sent planners back to the drawing board.

They have returned with a less overtly commercial vision for the area surrounding Clifford's Tower which includes some interesting and ambitious ideas.

City of York Council's report emerged from a unique consultation process. The Castle Piccadilly reference group, involving interested parties from conservation groups to commercial property specialists, met several times last year to discuss the future of the site.

The public contributed on an open day, before the forum's conclusions were fed back to the city council.

The resulting blueprint has one distinct advantage over its predecessors. Clifford's Tower is no longer seen as a backdrop, but moves to centre stage.

For the first time in generations, York's castle has been granted the sort of respect its historic and religious status demand. The car parking blight would be hidden underground and replaced by landscaped open space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

That proposal will win support from many York people, as will the desire to transform drab Piccadilly into a lively shopping street. The council deserves credit for listening carefully and thinking differently to produce this bold report.

York will need more details about the scales, designs and costs involved before it can make a final judgement. But after so many years of wrangling, we hope this report could provide the springboard to a successfully realised Coppergate III.

Updated: 10:39 Monday, July 25, 2005