Micklegate councillors today welcomed the council Planning Committee's decision to reject the redevelopment application for the former Terry's site. The ward councillors had submitted detailed reasons calling for the application to be rejected, but today said they very much hoped new plans would be submitted for the site.

Coun. Sandy Fraser, who addressed Thursday's five hour long meeting, said:

"We hope the developer goes back to the drawing board, and comes back with an employment-led development, but one more in keeping with this iconic and historic site. We acknowledge employment was one aspect of the original, rejected plans, but we feel it should have been more prominent, and with less emphasis on housing, particularly flats and apartments. Any new scheme should be more focussed on providing the kind of jobs that would attract local people. "

"Obviously Thursday's decision is not one to be celebrated, but it should be welcomed nonetheless as being correct in terms of adhering to the city's local policies, particularly on sustainable transport solutions. On this issue, to pass it would have been a backward step".

Coun. Fraser's fellow councillor, Coun. Julie Gunnell who also spoke in opposition to the application, said she was satisfied the right outcome had been reached:

"I'm pleased for the many reasons we presented that this decision was reached. The site requires the right blueprint for any future redevelopment, and we hope that blueprint is forthcoming. We welcome the unanimous decision across the political spectrum which demonstrates the strength of feeling that this application needed a rethink.

"This is undoubtedly a fantastic site in an unique location and officers need to work together with the developer to take into account and address the reasons why Councillors rejected the original plans and why so many of the public voiced their concerns".