CONTROVERSIAL proposals for new homes on a "greenfield" site on the outskirts of York look set to be dropped from the latest version of the city's future development blueprint.

In the fourth set of changes to York's Local Plan, it has now been confirmed that a previous proposal to allocate the New Lane site in Huntington for housing should be shelved.

Its inclusion prompted nearly 1,700 objections to the previous Local Plan draft.

But the latest report from council officers suggests that this site should now be "de-allocated".

Huntington Parish Council chairman Peter Vaughan said residents were delighted that the threat of more housing in the village looked set to be lifted.

As previously reported in the Evening Press, the new version of the plan includes a potential 3,000-home scheme for the massive "brownfield" site at York Central, which has relieved pressure to build on green belt areas to meet housing quotas.

However, officers state in the latest report to City of York Council's green belt working group that developments in Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick, and Germany Beck, Fulford - which have also provoked many objections - are "essential" to the city's housing mix, so should stay in the draft plan.

Other changes recommended to be given the green light include keeping Northminster Business Park and land north of Monks Cross available for business use, despite concerns about transport links and overdevelopment. Both sites are needed to meet the city's economic needs, the report concludes.

However, greenfield sites east of Northminster and west of north Monks Cross will not be required before 2011, according to officers.

Coun Vaughan said: "We are delighted that all the pressure that was brought about by the people of Huntington, the parish council and city councillors produced this recommendation. We want to make sure that the land is kept in the green belt for a very long time. We're delighted the threat has been lifted."

Coun Vaughan also backed proposals to remove land west of north Monks Cross from the Local Plan. He said Monks Cross was already "pretty well developed".

The proposed changes to the Local Plan will be discussed by the working group on June 1.

The Local Plan is due to be adopted by 2007.

Updated: 10:31 Monday, May 24, 2004