The land belonging to housebuilder Persimmon next to the Barbican should be subject to a public consultation on its future use. That's the message from the council's Labour Group leader, Coun. David Scott, who says that the public should be able to give an opinion over the land's possible change of use.

He said:

"A lot has changed in recent years since Persimmon first acquired this site from the council, and a great deal of thought needs to be given to whether changing its use from housing to retail is the right option.

"But the local residents should have a say on what is going to be a significant development, as and when it appears. People were consulted locally on plans to redevelop the Barbican and on use of the entire Barbican site, so consulting local people again I believe is appropriate.

"The future use of the Barbican remains up in the air and unresolved so I think it would be premature to assume change of use is the right thing to do, and I'm surprised the landowner would want to embark on this plan given the uncertainty surrounding the adjacent complex.

"We know that developments in the city work best when the community have been properly consulted and actively participate. We cannot simply say ‘anything is better than what was planned'. We have a second opportunity to get this right and we should not waste that opportunity.

"The affordable housing shortage in the city everyone knows is acute and the council needs to think long and hard about any proposal coming forward from Persimmon. Residents will do too and I think will expect to be given an opportunity to give their views on something that could have a significant impact on the local community in the long term".