THE Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust is pressing ahead with two new prototype homes on the edge of York’s Derwenthorpe site, despite the European Commission stepping up its investigation into the model village.

Osbaldwick Parish Council chairman Mark Warters called on the trust to freeze construction work on the pair of environmentally-friendly homes at the end of Temple Avenue, which is due to start any day now.

He claimed the whole Derwenthorpe scheme had been thrown into doubt by news that the commission’s probe into a land deal between City of York Council and the trust could end up going to the European Court of Justice.

He argued that without Derwenthorpe, there was no justification for the prototypes. But John Hocking, executive director of the trust, said it had gone through the normal planning system to gain permission for the two houses, as was usual for any small development.

“These properties will enable us to gain an understanding of how to design and build sustainable (environmentally friendly) housing and housing for families with disabled children,” he said.

The trust said earlier this month that the aim of the prototypes was to help determine the most appropriate construction methods during the first phase of Derwenthorpe, as well as other new-build schemes in the region.

Mr Warters also questioned whether the removal earlier this week of remnants of a hedgerow at the end of the avenue, prior to the start of construction, had breached wildlife laws which protect birds’ nests during the nesting season.

But a council spokeswoman said it understood that experts for the trust had investigated and found there were no birds nesting in the hedgerow, and it could therefore be removed.

Meanwhile, a resident who lives next to the proposed prototypes claimed the Derwenthorpe scheme had been drastically reducing the chances of selling his home.

Bob Peel said the property had been on the market for 18 months, during which time he had reduced the price from £200,000 to £174,000, but still no one had bought it.

He claimed a number of viewers, particularly one couple, had been very keen on the property until they heard about Derwenthorpe.

The Trust declined to comment on his claims.