PROPOSALS for York’s future development, over a 15-year period, first emerged through City of York Council’s draft Local Plan last April.

It identifies land for 1,090 new homes a year, as well as sites for business use, travellers’ sites and renewable energy schemes.

The aim is also to create 16,000 new jobs across the city. It says this amount of new housing is needed to meet York’s population growth and economic aspirations, and to make buying or renting a home in York more affordable.

The plan also includes policies on the future of the city centre, education, community facilities, flooding and transport.

Critics claim the housing targets are too high and will lead to York’s currently unofficial green belt being swallowed up by development. Potential sites for wind turbines are also controversial. The council says without a Local Plan, development decisions will be taken out of York’s hands.

A final draft, outlining preferred sites for development, is expected to go out to public consultation in the middle of this year.