YORK MP Julian Sturdy has welcomed the formation of a new £200million fund to help develop brownfield, rather than greenfield, land.

Mr Sturdy, recently made Parliamentary Private Secretary to Planning Minister Brandon Lewis, said he was delighted with the help the money would give in the fight to protect greenbelt land, and called on City of York Council to “follow the Government’s lead” and work to protect the countryside.

The £200 million will be give councils outside of London chance to bid for cash to create one of 10 housing zones by building 750 homes or more on brownfield land.