Council officials are to investigate proposals of an underground city centre car park surrounding an ancient castle.

Ian Gillies, executive member for transport and planning at City of York Council, is backing plans to relocate York’s Castle Car Park underground.

He believes it would be the best way of turning the surface parking near Clifford’s Tower into open space, with opportunities for a theatre.

Councillor Gillies said: “The costs would be substantial but there are ways and means. I think we need to be ambitious and have a vision, and we need to explore all the options.”

It was reported in January that a two-tier underground car park would cost £18 million, while a multi-storey on the Castle Mills site would cost £7.5 million.

But Cllr Gillies wants to look at other benefits such as the possibility of a pop-up Shakespearean theatre on part of the Castle park next summer.

He believes it may also help with flood prevention, as it could provide a flood storage area when the Foss an Ouse rivers are set to flood.

It would also provide data on council revenue, as shoppers were increasingly using the park and ride services.

The data could then help decide whether to go ahead with an underground car park as part of the Castle Gateway proposals to transform the whole area.