CAMPAIGNERS are still waiting to hear if there will be a public inquiry into a village green application they believe could scupper a massive housing development near York.

Persimmon Homes' plans to build around 700 homes in the Green Belt at Germany Beck, Fulford, were approved by the Government after a public inquiry in 2006.

But in a bid to block the proposals local residents created Friends of Germany Beck (FGB), which submitted the village green application to City of York Council.

FGB believes that if its application to register land to the east of Fordlands Road - where the main access road into the development was set to be built - was successful, that would jeopardise the scheme.

FGB says that would be the case because no alternative access road to the development had been identified.

City of York Council today said it would be unable to confirm if there would be a public inquiry into the village green application until after April 16.

A spokeswoman said: "There is no statutory requirement to hold an inquiry but it is good practice were there are objections to an application. People have the option to object to the village green application until April 16."

Verna Campbell, chair of FGB, said: "Fulford residents are very keen to protect this local amenity and we look forward to presenting our case if there is an inquiry."

Andrew Bowes, managing director for Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "We take all comments regarding our proposed new developments extremely seriously and recognise the concerns local residents have raised about Germany Beck.

"The Germany Beck site has been allocated for residential development in City of York Council's draft local plan for many years and we are extremely pleased to have received outline planning permission.

"We propose to build around 700 units ranging from affordable properties to executive detached homes, and firmly believe this provision will go a significant way in addressing the need for high quality new housing in the city."

Meanwhile, campaigners who submitted a similar village green application wait with bated breath as an inspector decides whether to recommend that land at Osbaldwick be designated as a village green.

The Friends of Osbaldwick Meadows claim that if the site is designated as a village green, that would block Joseph Rowntree Foundation's proposals to develop the 540-home model village Derwenthorpe.

City of York Council said the inspector would give the recommendation early next month.