NEW Government figures released yesterday could radically change housing plans for York, councillors have said.

The Local Plan – which has provoked fierce disagreement over how many new houses York needs and where they should be built – may need major revision in the light of new population projections published by the Office for National Statistics.

Figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government estimate there will be a growth of 11,000 households in York, which Liberal Democrat councillor Nigel Ayre said means a lower “baseline” figure of 733 should be used.

Cllr Ayre, who represents Heworth Without, said: “The data shows that in 2013 and again last December, Labour were using figures which exaggerated growth in York by more than 100 houses a year. On both occasions the figures were then further increased to factor in plans for economic growth.

“Lib Dem councillors have consistently said that we need a Local Plan which is evidence-based and addresses housing need. The figures show a growth of 733 households a year over the next 15 years and 700 households a year over the next 20 years. This shows that we were right to halt Labour’s plans for 1,090 houses a year and to oppose plans for 926 houses a year.”

He said that with 80 per cent of Local Plan housing planned for greenbelt land, the new figures showed the Labour council would bulldoze green land against evidence, and against the wishes of local people.

Council leader Dafydd Williams said simply that he was pleased to see the new figures available, and looked forward to discussing them.

Head of planning Martin Grainger said the new figures provided a starting point for assessing York’s housing need.

Council staff are preparing a briefing for councillors on the new figures’ impact on the Local Plan.