In the 1960s Esher had deplored the lack of a firm planning brief for the land between Clifford's Tower and the Foss.

A planning brief was produced in July 1991 by the City's Directorate of Development Services. It is the foundation of the development schemes of the last ten years. It is for the Castle/Piccadilly, a larger area than that of the current proposals, for the east side of Piccadilly is included.

1 2 Storey building for specialised retail/cultural uses (on ground floor at least0 with retail/offices/housing above: building on podium with parking under

2 Retail/office/housing uses max. of 3 storeys

3 2/3 storeys development of shops/offices/housing with varied roofscape

4 Decked car park building - up to 4 storeys.

2.4 The setting of the Castle Museum and Clifford's Tower may justly be said to be of international importance. Any proposal for development will therefore have to be of the highest quality for it to be supported by the City Council.

1.9 The competition for the development of the Coppergate Centre [Coppergate Shopping] invited applicants to consider the potential for incorporating part of the Castle Car Park within that development. At the time this did not prove to be feasible, but the City Council's Visitor Strategy (1986) recognised that the Polar, Reynards and Castle Car Park sites, if developed together into a comprehensive scheme, could produce an exciting addition to the City Centre.

3. 2 Speciality leisure or cultural activities may be appropriate given the special character and important cultural/civic qualities of the location.

3.9 Completing the development of this historic Precinct - long overdue following the demolition in the 1930's of former prison buildings on the present car park - is one of the most exciting yet challenging architectural possibilities of this century.

3.10 A new building must not complete in mass, scale or appearance with the beautiful eighteenth century buildings which house the Castle Museum and the Crown Court. Neither must it reduce the dramatic impact of Clifford's Tower. New developments must be a foil to enclose the space, emphasising the drama of the monuments and creating a special setting for them. Yet it must in its own right be a structure of considerable architectural merit.

3.11 Building heights and the disposition of facades will be an important consideration to define enclosure of the space and to avoid too dominant a structure. As a broad guide, it is recommended that the main façade of a new building should echo the building line and parapet height of the Castle Museum, with some variation in the heights and siting of the component parts of the building to achieve spontaneity and relief in the massing and architectural composition. Whilst some form of pitched roof treatment may be desirable, it is suggested that in view of the site's prominence from Clifford's Tower, the design might need to generally reflect the more subtle roofspace of the Castle Museum/Crown Court buildings.

3.12 The interplay of levels may be another important influence in the layout of the civic space and the harmonious relationship between existing and new buildings, i.e. The incorporation of a podium and terracing. It is suggested that by siting the new building on a podium - similar in height to the Castle Museum's and Crown Court buildings - a common theme of line and level could help bring visual continuity throughout the space, subtly assisting the visual enclosure of the area. The inclusion of a basement area level beneath the podium may accommodate car parking or other uses and be achievable by only shallow excavation, reducing the possibilities of archaeological conflict.

3.13 Floorscaping and landscaping of a high quality will be necessary to achieve the full effect of a new civic precinct. Natural paving materials will be preferred. The extent of such works will need careful consideration as the treatment of The Eye of York, Perimeters to Clifford's Tower and Tower Street are effectively all part of the area and in need of floorscape/landscape improvement. An overall design appraisal for this whole area is needed.