Developers want to build a £20 million office and restaurant scheme on the site of the former GEC site at Thornbury.

Harrogate based Gregory Properties withdrew its planning application for a 16-screen cinema and leisure complex in July, shortly before it was scheduled for a public inquiry.

But now the company has submitted a new application for a scheme which it claims will bring hundreds of jobs.

Gregory Properties wants to build a two-storey 150,000 square ft office complex expected to become a call centre.

Director Barry Gregory said they were in talks with a major company which would want to occupy the building by December next year.

The company also wants to build three drive-in restaurants and a 35,000 square ft office block.

The restaurants will link into a planned multi-million pound leisure centre on the adjoining site which will have a multiplex cinema.

Mr Gregory said they could not name the company in the call centre talks - but it was planning to relocate.

But he said: "We expect the whole scheme to bring hundreds of jobs.

"We hope the planning application will be dealt with as quickly as possible because of the date the company is aiming for."

The company's previous planning application was dogged by delays and controversy.

It was originally backed by Leeds Council but in January the authority changed its mind and decided to oppose the scheme at the public inquiry.

Work on the adjoining Phoenix Park scheme had begun and the Council was concerned about the impact on traffic by both schemes.

Today Leeds ward councillor Andrew Carter (Con, Pudsey) said any planning consent must take into account the extra traffic created by the Owlcotes shopping centre.

He said the Council should discuss with the developers, Asda and Marks & Spencer the need to implement pedestrian safety measures at Dawson Corner. He added a new access road should also have been built into the Owlcotes centre.

Coun Carter said the companies and the Council should put money into the improvements. "With luck we should now get the improvements we need and a scheme in Thornbury much more in keeping with the industrial site which will create a lot of jobs."

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