Location York

York Council's operations are currently scattered across 16 buildings in the city, and senior officials yesterday claim that the local authority's work has been hindered by the lack of a central base.
The new development could see up to £50m invested into the city, not only from the construction work but also with retail, offices and new accommodation in buildings vacated by York Council.
Simon Wiles, the council's director of resources, said: "If we stayed where we are, we are facing a significant increase in costs. We are not spending our money as efficiently as we could. We identified a need for a new building which will provide significant savings."
Officers have spent two years whittling down 16 potential sites to a shortlist of four before opting for the Hungate location.
While the move would cost £30m, £10.5m is expected to be raised through the sale of the buildings which the council is planning to vacate.
A further £17m will be borrowed from the Government's Public Works Loan Board, and the remainder will be made from savings. Half of the local authority buildings are leased, and the new building would shave a significant amount off its spending on rent.
The new base would also save fuel and electricity bills, and it would also provide a more efficient one-stop shop for members of the public.
According to York Council, a total of £29m would be saved over the next 30 years.
Councillors will meet on Tuesday, November 22, to discuss the proposals, and if they are given the go-ahead, then construction could begin in February 2008.
The new building, which would house about 1,600 staff, could be operational by early 2010, although Neil Hindhaugh, York Council's head of property services, admitted contingency plans had been put in place if problems are encountered.
The 10-acre Hungate site is known to be the location of a Roman cemetery, and before the transformation of the semi-derelict land can start a £3.3m archaeological dig will begin – the biggest in the city since the Coppergate excavations of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Mr Hindhaugh stressed that the proposed move to Hungate will not spell an increase in council tax to cover the costs as detailed financial plans had already been drawn up.