THE first planning application has been submitted for the primary phase of York's ambitious new city hall project.

City of York Council is planning to relocate to a massive new £35 million headquarters in the Hungate development, and next week ruling councillors will get the chance to approve phase one of the scheme.

The original outline planning application proposed a total of 720 homes would also be built on the site, east of the city centre.

This would have meant a mix of 122 flats and houses being built as part of phase one - which is now up for consideration by councillors.

That phase one figure has since increased to 163, but officers have made no objection to this proposed increase, as long as the overall number of homes does not increase.

It is proposed there will be 31 affordable homes, of which 13 are one-bedroom flats, 13 are two-bedroom flats and five are four-bedroom townhouses.

A proposed basement car park would provide 200 car parking spaces and 122 bike parking spaces with 20 more spaces above ground.

Phil Darcy, managing director of Hungate developer York Regenera-tion Ltd, said: "The Hungate scheme is widely acknowledged to be a high-quality development with important benefits for York, bringing new vitality to a brown field site close to the heart of the city.

"We have been very encouraged by the positive views and support given for the scheme by York people. "Following extensive consultation, public exhibitions and presentations, we hope the council can now point the way forward so that work can soon start."

The construction of the new offices will start in 2008 and it is planned that they will be completed by 2010.

On Wednesday, The Press reported that a meeting of the council's ruling executive heard York-based building firm Shepherds Construction had been appointed to build the new HQ, while Turner & Townsend, of Leeds, will manage the project.

The executive also approved the appointment of RMJM Ltd as architect, structural engineer, space planner and planning supervisor; Gifford as mechanical and electrical engineer; and WT Partnership as quantity surveyor.

Last month, The Press revealed the anticipated cost of the new city hall soared by more than £8 million without a brick being laid.

The initial estimate presented to the executive was £27.61 million.

A detailed examination of the project saw that figure increase to £31.17 million, but by last autumn that had increased again to £35.71 million, partly because inflation had not been taken into account.

The council is selling many of its current properties, including those in St Leonard's Place and Museum Street, which will contribute a higher-than expected £13.1 million.

Planners have recommended councillors approve phase one of the development at a planning committee meeting at 4.30pm, on Thursday, in the Guildhall.

West of city action plan

AT A meeting on February 27, City of York Council's Executive will hear that an action plan which will shape development in the west of the city could be finalised by 2010.

In response to British Sugar's plans to close its Poppleton Road site by the end of this year, City of York Council has agreed to draw up a joint Area Action Plan covering both the York Central and British Sugar sites.

The Area Action Plan will guide new development and land use in the area up to 2021 and will ensure that the redevelopment of each site will complement the other.

Work already been carried out in preparation for the York Central Area Action Plan will be transferred to the larger York Northwest Area Action Plan.