THE Duke of York was in the region yesterday to tour a site set aside for 3,000 homes and a business development.

Prince Andrew met civic leaders at the National Railway Museum, in York, and was shown the 35-hectare development site, which is directly behind York railway station.

Work on the project, which is called York Central, is due to start in 2008. The Duke is the patron of the development and took yesterday's tour on Eustace Forth, a Saddle Tank steam locomotive.

He was accompanied by Sir Graham Hall, the chairman of the York Central Steering Board, Councillor Steve Galloway, the leader of City of York Council, Andrew Scott, the head of the National Railway Museum, and John Pike, head of commercial property for Network Rail.

Published: 04/03/2005