THE future of one of York’s biggest empty shops is up for grabs after an outdoor retailer said it wanted to open a store on the site.

GO Outdoors, which claims to be the UK’s fastest growing outdoor retailer, said it was keen on the old MFI furniture outlet in Foss Islands Road, as upmarket supermarket chain Waitrose also admitted its interest in the location.

GO Outdoors said if it opened a shop in York, the store would employ more than 40 people and offer more than 20,000 outdoor lines, including walking boots, ski-wear, fleeces, cycling equipment and tents.

Mike Williams, head of property and business acquisitions for GO Outdoors, said: “Our UK expansion is driving forward at break-neck speed.

“We hope that York will become a landmark site and play a key role in our portfolio of UK stores.”

The way has been paved for Waitrose to pursue its interest in the old MFI site after City of York Council’s planning committee lifted a no-food condition set in 1994, when DIY chain B&Q occupied the site.

Planning officer Billy Wong said York’s Retail Study had recommended that the city should readdress the balance between out-of-town food stores and city centre or suburban centres.

He said: “The city centre is constrained by its historic environment, which means that it is difficult to provide a site of a larger food store in York city centre, and therefore sites such as Foss Islands are the next best option.” A Waitrose spokesman said: “We remain extremely keen to come to York and the MFI site is of interest.

“However, discussions are still ongoing for this location and we are therefore not in a position to make an announcement at this time.”

News of Waitrose’s interest in the site emerged after the council received a planning application for changes to the former MFI store’s junction with Foss Islands Road, including the installation of traffic lights and a pedestrian refuge.

The application was made by AXA Real Estate Investment Managers, the owners of the Foss Island Retail Park and the former MFI unit.

If developed, the food store would have a likely sales area of almost 22,000 square feet and parking for 178 cars.