BREXIT will have “no impact” on major developments like the York Central scheme, the city’s council leader has claimed.

Cllr David Carr on Thursday told councillors he was not worried about vital investor confidence falling after the EU referendum result, and did not think it would harm the multi-million pound project the council is pursuing on the former railway land.

The meeting saw councillors clash over Brexit. Liberal Democrats and Labour voted through a motion asking the Government to make sure York and Yorkshire get funding “at least equal” to the £650 million earmarked from EU funds for the region by 2020.  Conservatives said their requests were “a nonsense”, adding that York’s part in negotiations would be “like a drop in the River Ouse”.

Independent Cllr Mark Warters said the end of Britain’s EU membership would mean fewer migrants and less pressure on public services and housing. He asked for the draft Local Plan to be reconsidered, saying fewer immigrants would mean slower population growth. His requests were overwhelmingly voted down.

Cllr Ann Reid said the motion “supports putting up the barricades to stop anybody foreign coming to the city.” She said further delaying the Local Plan further would only mean the greenbelt was unprotected and at risk from developers.