CITY of York Council has responded to questions from Government inspectors about the city’s Local Plan, which determines what houses are built and where in York during the next 15 years.

The council submitted the city’s plans to the government for inspection in May.

As part of the process, the inspectors wrote to the local authority with questions about the draft Local Plan.

The Office of National Statistics has also since reduced a previous projection for household growth in York from 884 new homes required per year to just 442.

Writing in reply to the inspectors, corporate director of economy and place at the council Neil Ferris, asked the inspectors if they can organise early public hearings to focus on the housing needs for York.

He said: “Since your letter revised household projections for England were published by the Office for National Statistics in September 2018.

“In the circumstances, and given the central importance of the Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAN) figure, we also consider that the most expeditious way forward would be to timetable hearings specifically on the OAN as soon as possible and in advance of the other matters, since other aspects of the plan (such as green belt and infrastructure delivery) may require reconsideration as a consequence of determining the OAN.”