FLATS and a new community centre could be the future for a former York church hall, if a leading councillor approves the scheme.

Coun Quentin Macdonald, City of York Council's resources boss, will be asked to give the thumbs up to a scheme to transform St Clement's Hall, in Cygnet Street.

Meeting on Monday, the authority's resources and advisory panel will discuss plans to develop the site, a Grade II listed building, for a mixed use - redeveloping the hall for the community, while adding a three-storey extension to provide further flats.

The adjoining Church House could also be converted into flats, and may also provide some office accommodation.

The advisory panel has recommended that a project development group is formed to oversee the redevelopment of the whole area.

Ownership of the site has been in the council's hands since last year, when it was acquired from York Housing Association.

Coun Macdonald said that, although the council picked up the building, it was always intended for it to be returned to the community.

Between 1933 and 2002, St Clement's Hall was used almost continually as a community building. Council chiefs have indicated their preference that it is restored to its former use as a community hall.

Coun Macdonald said: "The hall itself is a most attractive internal building and it is just waiting to be repaired and brought back into use as a community facility - the kind of which it was designed for in the first place."

The building was originally a Church of England site before it was sold on to York Housing Association. They put forward a plan to turn the site into a residential area, but that was thrown out by council planners.

All the work to date has been discussed with members of the St Clement's Hall steering group, which has met regularly over the past six months. The annual cost of maintaining the site in its current condition is £2,200.

Updated: 09:42 Saturday, November 19, 2005