A CONTROVERSIAL Lancaster housing development could yet be blocked after the Government called the plans in for a local public inquiry.

Planning permission was given by the city council last year for a huge development of 535 new houses at Whinney Carr Farm, south of Scotforth.

It had the support of Labour and MBI councillors, despite a petition signed by 300 local residents, who claimed the development would generate a huge amount of traffic and undermine urban renewal projects.

A final decision on the site, between the A6 and the Lancaster canal, will now be taken by the Secretary of State, Stephen Byers, after the inquiry, a date for which has yet to be announced.

The decision has delighted Green councillors, who campaigned against the scheme from the start.

County Cllr Jonathan Sear said: "It is wonderful news that we have another chance to stop this development.

"Regional policy is moving in our favour -- only last week, independent planning inspectors agreed with us -- rejecting Lancashire County Council's claims that it should be allowed to build 10,000 homes more than it had been allocated by 2021."

Scotforth West Cllr Emily Heath added: "We will continue to fight this unnecessary housing sprawl at the forthcoming public inquiry -- we will be urging the Government to prioritise urban regeneration instead."