YORK MP Rachael Maskell has called for the city’s draft Local Plan to be rejected by the Government - a move that council bosses say would set back hopes for house building in the city.

Ms Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, asked a government minister to work with her department to reject York’s proposed Local Plan - which is now in its final consultation phase before it is “examined” by the central planning inspectorate.

The MP was speaking in a Parliamentary debate about homelessness, when she also hit out at the huge bonuses handed to Persimmon bosses as homelessness in York is growing.

She later slammed the pay-out of more than £100 million, originally handed to one Persimmon boss, saying just four per cent of that figure could have solved the homelessness problem in York.

The MP also said that many people in York have to live in “inappropriate” accommodation, with families crammed into homes that are too small for them.

The Local Plan should set out a plan for new homes as well as business expansion around York for the next 15 years. It has faced numerous delays as well as controversies over the number of homes the city will need, and in recent months government ministers warned the city council it will take over if decent progress isn’t made.

However Ms Maskell said the current draft for York “seriously undercuts” the number of homes needed and does not address affordability problems in the city. She pointed to the British Sugar site, where only three per cent of the planned 1000 plus homes will be affordable.

On Wednesday, February 21, a final six week consultation period began, before the council hands the draft over to a planning inspector.

Council bosses, however, insist the plan they have drawn up is right for York.

Cllr Andrew Waller, currently the interim council leader, said: “The Local Plan for York offers a balance between providing new homes for all incomes and areas for employment while protecting the city’s special character, something that the Labour Party failed to put forward between 2011 and 2015.”

Cllr Waller also said that if the government were to turn down York’s plan and take over the process itself, that would delay the new homes the city needs.

“[The plan] will raise targets for affordable homes within developments, so intervention in the plan could put into jeopardy around 4,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of the plan.”

“We’ve developed this plan after lengthy public consultations, and strongly believe that democratically elected members of York should and will retain control of this process.”