York Guides

It covers the Castle area, the western side of Piccadilly, Coppergate and the River Foss – which has already been the subject of the controversial Coppergate retail scheme. The project was called in by the Secretary of State and rejected after a lengthy public inquiry.
Now, the council's acting director of environment and development services, Bill Woolley, is asking elected members to approve a 60-page document intended to shape the future of an area which everyone recognises is of vital importance to the city. It is expected to go out next month.
He said: "It includes buildings within it of international importance and exceptional historic and architectural quality."
Redevelopment is seen as providing a unique opportunity to take York forward by enhancing the area's special character, removing poor-quality elements and providing the city with more retail space.
An original brief was produced 14 years ago for a smaller area. It resulted in the much- criticised Coppergate scheme, which the Secretary of State rejected in 2003.
In his decision letter, the Secretary of State said there was a need for the planning brief to be reviewed. As a result a group was set up representing key organisations in the city which has shaped the document the planning committee is expected to approve on August 3. At the same meeting members will consider the first draft of a conservation area appraisal focusing on the land which is expected to be redeveloped.
Although it is part of York's central historic core conservation area, the new study is intended to be a "neutral document" which will help to formulate redevelopment proposals.
Its author, conservation officer Martin Lowe, concludes: "In conservation terms, the special architectural and historic character of the area covered within the appraisal is considerable. It is consistent with and an integral part of the wider York central historic core conservation area.
"Any development must seek to respond to this quality. Whilst this may at first seem a formidable task, a thorough process of understanding character will hopefully lead not only to a knowledge of what is important, what should be saved, but also what can be worked with, changed and in turn contribute to the evolution of the area."
One of the aspects criticised when the Coppergate scheme was being considered was the existing car park at the base of Clifford's Tower.
Council officers have examined the possibility of an underground car park and decided 145 spaces could be possible – subject to a detailed archaeological survey and a depth limit on excavation.
One of the key objectives of the design brief is that the setting of Clifford's Tower and the Castle precinct should be enhanced and that the important views of these historic buildings should be maintained.