A PIG farmer's bid to build homes on his crisis-hit farm in York's greenbelt has been thrown out by planners.

Chris England was told by members of City of York Council's planning committee that they were sympathetic to his plight but felt his application for outline permission for 15 homes to be built on the site of Willow Court Farm, Holtby, flew in the face of greenbelt guidelines.

Mr England told the committee that by September the buildings would be empty and professional advice confirmed there was no market for a pig farm.

He said: "How can it be in the public interest for this site to remain unused and become derelict."

The crisis in the pig industry created an exceptional circumstance, he argued.

The site, he said, counted as previously developed land and, with other proposed developments putting pressure on the greenbelt, the use of his land for housing would help save a "virgin site" elsewhere.

But Holtby parish councillor Mick Proctor, whose authority won praise for the meetings it held to gauge public opinion, told the committee: "We have a long history of defending the greenbelt."

While Mr England had gathered 61 villagers signatures in support of his bid, the village population was 135 and he had no majority, said Coun Proctor.

He said the development could set a dangerous precedent for further development in the greenbelt, which could see Holtby double in size, and was against Government guidelines.

Committee chairman coun Dave Merrett told Mr England his bid was "premature" given that a review of the greenbelt, in terms of housing need, was due later this year as part of the local plan inquiry.

Coun Merrett said: "I have some personal sympathy with this applicant but we have to remember national and local policy and the importance of the greenbelt to this city and its residents."

After the meeting Mr England said he would look at other uses for the site which were in line with greenbelt rules but that the approximate £135,000 cost to clear the site had a major bearing on what he could suggest.

He said: "We had a fair hearing and I can't complain. Now we have got to start looking at alternatives."