A NEW bridge, major road closures and an improved public transport system are at the heart of a massive blueprint which could transform the landscape of York.

Unveiled by city council chiefs, the York Central transport study advocates shutting Leeman Road to through traffic, building a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Ouse and putting more than 5,000 parking spaces in the 70-acre "Teardrop Site".

Council leader Steve Galloway said the development was the biggest that York had seen since the introduction of the railways.

The study, prepared by consultants Faber Maunsell, even gives City of York Council bosses the option of removing the bridge at Queen Street, building a new bus interchange in the heart of the city centre and making Holgate Park and Queen Street the only entrances to the York Central site.

But the consultants appear to have ruled out plans for a tram system linking the site with the city centre, saying it would be too expensive.

The study, outlining the first ideas for a development expected to come to fruition in the next 15 to 20 years, gives the first indications of how the city's highway network would need to change to cater for the traffic which would be created by a huge expansion of the Teardrop site.

One of the largest sites of its kind in Europe, the land could hold up to 3,000 homes and create 6,000 jobs, as well as accommodating business, retail and leisure outlets.

Faber Maunsell's key findings include:

Giving the site two main access points over the railway lines at Holgate Park and Queen Street, with a third access point at Water End to be given further consideration

Significant improvements to public transport provision across the city to help further reduce congestion

An improved bus interchange added to the front of York Station

Improvements to cycling and pedestrian provision - including a possible new footbridge across the River Ouse close to Scarborough Bridge

Access restrictions on Leeman Road because of the projected increase in traffic.

Other "transport solutions" looked at by the consultants also considered the removal of the bridge at Queen Street to further open up the Teardrop Site, and new and improved cycling and pedestrian links at Marble Arch and on Leeman Road.

Bill Woolley, the council's director of city strategy, said the authority would be looking to put a bid into the Government for cash to help fund any future firm transport scheme - which was likely to cost at least £31 million, but could cost as much as £110 million.

He also said transport levels into the site would have to be half of current levels in order to avoid swamping the city with congestion.

"The report looked at a wide range of issues and the findings will be used to guide how the site is developed," he said.

"However, it's important to remember that the development is at a very early stage, and the transport solutions suggested in the report will need updating to take account of changing circumstances over the next ten to 15 years of the project.

"Transport in the city in 15 years' time is likely to look radically different to the network we have now, and transport solutions for York Central will need to take that into account as the project progresses. Further work will be needed to look into the findings of the report in greater detail."

Mr Woolley said any pedestrian bridge to be built would need to be "something pretty special" and could link the site with the emerging cultural quarter envisaged around St Leonard's Place and the National Railway Museum.

Coun Galloway said: "The site is of enormous significance to the city. Its transport implications will mean a change in people's habits and attitudes, but we think that will happen in the next 15 to 20 years anyway.

"York Central, because of its sheer scale and its impact on commercial life, is probably the most significant change - in terms of potential prosperity of the city - for the next 50 years.

"No other significant project will have as much impact as this particular development. The only thing on a probable par is the effect the railways had on the city in the 1800s."

Ann Reid, the council's planning chief, said: "It is going to be expensive and might have to be quite radical. It is a very exciting scheme and the city will benefit greatly (when it is constructed in 15 to 20 years)."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour opposition planning and transport spokeswoman, said: "There are a number of issues that need looking at further, so it is a cautious response from us at the moment.

"We don't know until the overall masterplan stage what is going to be on that site. Some of the things which are being talked about will make this a heavily dense site.

"This area is as large as the city centre, so we've got to make sure we get it right."

Site one of the largest in Europe

YORK Central, a 70-acre brownfield site situated at the rear of York Station, is one of the largest development areas of its kind in Europe.

Almost as big as the medieval city centre, it will cost hundreds of millions of pounds to transform the land from railway lines to a heaving mass of business, leisure and housing.

City of York Council is working with partners, including Yorkshire Forward and Network Rail, on the development of the site - which is expected to be fully constructed in the next two decades.

With 3,000 homes and at least 6,000 jobs, council chiefs say it could transform the economic prosperity of the city.

Nicknamed the Teardrop Site, because of its shape, York Central could provide a solution to the city's housing shortages, as well as possibly providing a new stadium for York City.

A separate team of consultants is carrying out a massive study to see if the site could be the venue for the Minstermen's new home. The results of that are expected in the next few weeks.

Critics - including Labour leader Dave Merrett - have attacked the length of time it has taken to get the project to this stage, but council bosses say that until the site is defined exactly, work cannot begin.

City bus firm chief welcomes transport development

THE huge transport study for York Central was welcomed today by city bus boss Peter Edwards with his company First likely to play an important role in any future developments.

Faber Maunsell's report outlines the possibility of an "electric-tram" service, A59 Park&Ride site and puts public transport links to York Central at the heart of its plans.

Mr Edwards, First commercial director, said the company was "very excited about the project".

"Any economic boost to the city is good news," he said.

"From our point of view, a development that's built around improved public transport links is good news for us and the environment.

"We have done some initial work with the council on this proposal and we will continue to work closely with them.

"The partnership that we have demonstrated with the council over the past few years has shown that there is a real prospect of improving patronage on public transport.

"As far as the A59 Park&Ride is concerned, we are looking forward to seeing that as soon as possible."

Evening Press Reporter Gerran Grimshaw took a walk along Leeman Road to gauge local opinion on the proposed closure of the highway to through traffic.

Mark Rwane, 19, of Leeman Road, said: "I wouldn't be in favour of the closure. It would cause a lot of transport problems for me and the National Railway Museum, where I work."

Shaun Freer, 40, of Garfield Terrace, said: "There's a lot of traffic down here - I'd go for it to get rid of the traffic. I think it's a good idea to take traffic away from the area."

Darren Miller, 32, of St Martin's Court, said: "I live in the middle of Leeman Road and I like having access to town, and the A59 when I'm going out of York."

Sean Wright, 40, of Garfield Terrace, said: "That has been on the cards for around 30 years now. I would prefer the road to be closed - between 4.30pm and 5pm traffic can stretch back all the way along here."

Updated: 12:41 Wednesday, January 11, 2006