A FORMER pig farmer's six-year battle to convert a derelict farm into homes may have been lost.

Chris England, of Holtby, York, has been fighting for planning permission to develop Willow Court Farm since 1999 after he gave up farming.

But Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott may have put the final nail in the housing plan's coffin after he refused Mr England's application.

A planning inspector's report decided the scheme was

inappropriate in the green belt, and would cause harm to it and the character and appearance of the countryside.

The report says derelict farm buildings would have been demolished, with a new access created on to Holtby Lane.

The inspector rejected claims that there was any need for housing in the area, and said the plan would be "a significant extension of the built-up area beyond the settlement boundary of Holtby", which "is not in a sustainable location as most journeys would be by car".

Mr England's first application to City of York Council was rejected in July 2000. But

councillors went against their own officers' advice in February 2003, when they voted to give the plans the thumbs up.

The scheme faced strong opposition from residents and Holtby Parish Council, which felt the development was too large for the area and would increase traffic.

As the land was situated in the green belt, the scheme was then referred to the Secretary of State for approval - which he has now denied, deciding the scheme would not "add to the vitality of Holtby village".

Mr England, who said the farm had been empty for about five years, said: "The decision is obviously disappointing. I accepted this was never going to be easy. But to just leave something and allow buildings to fall into dereliction doesn't seem right."

He said: "At the moment, the future of the land lies with one of the major house builders. Along with them and their planning

consultancy, we will be reviewing the options to move forward. We need to look through the decision. I am aware that elsewhere in the country in similar

situations, redevelopment of pig farms for housing has been allowed.

"It is a case of balancing the harm caused by housing and what is already there. Obviously, another scheme would almost certainly involve an application for less houses."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said the authority was unable to comment on the Secretary of State's decision.

Updated: 11:10 Saturday, November 12, 2005