UNIVERSITY and health chiefs say they are still in talks about playing a part in York’s community stadium scheme.

The £19 million project to build a new home for York City FC and York City Knights where Huntington Stadium currently stands was approved by City of York Council last month.

Both York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and York St John University have been identified as potential occupiers of the community facilities.

Both organisations say no decisions have yet been made, but they are in negotiations about the development – which will also include John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores in a £90 million retail scheme.

The proposals by Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd suggested York St John’s Institute of Community Sport and Wellbeing could be based at the stadium, together with hospital outpatient facilities. The Press recently revealed the business case includes the hospital trust potentially paying £52,000 a year for “exclusive” weekday use of the stadium’s hospitality facilities for training, development, teaching and conferences.

A trust spokeswoman said: “The trust is supportive of the idea of a community stadium and we would be keen to look at the use of facilities for some clinical and administration purposes, such as some outpatient clinics, some elements of physiotherapy and staff training.”

She said the stadium was more conveniently located than the hospital for some people in the trust’s patch.

A York St John spokesman said negotiations were “ongoing” on matters such as space, access arrangements and the terms of the lease.

David Chesser, the university’s pro vice-chancellor for resources, said: “The creation of a new community stadium provides a fantastic opportunity to deliver a broad range of sport, activity, health, educational and wellbeing for those living and working in the city and the surrounding area. York St John University wants to be part of this story.”