A FAMILY will be allowed to stay in their home in the York greenbelt after city councillors extended their planning permission, but set the council on course for a possible clash with civil servants.

City of York Council’s planning committee last week extended a temporary planning permission for The Stables in Elvington, allowing it to be used as a site for travelling showpeople for three more years.

The Peel family have lived on the site since 2012, but temporary planning permission which was granted in 2011 ran out last year.

They applied for the permission to be extended for another three years, but met opposition from neighbours and from Elvington Parish Council.

The case came before councillors on Thursday, when neighbours Ken Guest and Martin Moorhouse, and ward councillor Suzie Mercer all objected, with Mr Moorhouse even saying he had offered to buy the Peel’s land.

Ian Bailey, the chairman of Elvington Parish Council, said the village remained a desirable place to live because the parish council was “rigorously proactive” in protecting the greenbelt.

However, Emma Peel who lives on the site with her family, said having the site in Elvington had allowed her children an education, and had given the family a home address so they could access health care.

“This is not a matter of a lack of sites in York, or that sites are overcrowded, there are simply no sites at all for showmen “Not allowing the extension of time would effectively be making us homeless.”

In 2011 the Peels were given permission by a planning inspector for five years. Councillors heard that at the time, it was expected York would have a Local Plan identifying a site for travelling showpeople - something that has still not yet happened.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has already asked to be informed if the case is approved, so ministers can decide whether they want to “call-in” and review the decision.