LAWYERS have spent a week arguing over controversial plans to put 102 new houses on a field in Strensall.

A planning inquiry has been held in Strensall Village Hall over the proposal for Brecks Lane by Linden Homes.

It was originally approved by City of York Council in February but was then called in for a public inquiry, and a final decision will be made by the Secretary of State after considering the report by the Government inspector Zoe Hill.

The inquiry which opened on Tuesda saw lawyers from both the City of York Council and Linden Homes argue that the development should be allowed to go ahead.

Strensall parish council was represented under special rules for "interested parties" and argued that the plan was unsustainable, had not been through a proper pre-application public engagement process, and would put untenable strain on services like the drains and primary schools.

Speaking on Thursday, Strensall with Towthorpe parish council planning committee chairman John Chapman told the planning inspector that 102 objections had been submitted by people in the village.

He said the parish council could have contributed useful information if it had been consulted before the application was made. But he admitted, under questioning by Linden Homes barrister Andrew Williamson, that the parish council would not have supported the application no matter what pre-application consultation had gone on.

Parish council chairman Keith Marquis said the objections from local people had not been mere NIMBYism, and spoke of the traffic difficulties on the main street in Strensall, which they fear will only get worse if 102 houses are built on the east side of the village.

MP Julian Sturdy and City of York ward councillor Paul Doughty both spoke earlier in the inquiry.

Mr Sturdy said the development would harm the special character of the village, and added: "Many of my constituents who attended the planning committee meeting in February were extremely disappointed with the way in which it was conducted by the council and the lack of consideration that was given by some elected members and officers to the very serious concerns that were expressed. Needless to say it remains a deeply controversial decision in the village and I do sincerely hope this inquiry will allow these outstanding concerns to be properly addressed."

But lawyers for Linden Homes and York council argued that greenfield development like that proposed at Brecks Lane was vital to meet housing need in York.

Council representative Jonathan Easton said that even using the most conservative estimates of housing needs - which are not figures ratified by elected members - brownfield sites cannot fill the full five-year housing supply needed.