"I'm pleased with the response," says Allan Johnson, project manager for the development. "The quality of submissions is high and several of them are from groups with a strong record of development."

The next stage of the work on the Council-owned 1.76ha block is for the proposals to be evaluated. A short-list will be compiled and those on it will be asked to provide detailed schemes. In launching the development plan, the Council said it was mainly seeking schemes to develop the whole site, but would consider part-proposals.

Providing more green space in this part of the Central City is another of the Council's aims, and prospective developers have been told they would need to include at least 5000 sq m of open public space. The Council also wants to encourage greater vitality in the area by increasing the number of people who live there. To help do this, developers have been asked for mixed-use schemes which provide a range of housing types, including those suitable for students.