CITY leaders have been accused of putting “political ambitions” above York’s future over plans for 22,000 new homes across the city.

The attack was made by City of York Council’s Conservative group as debate rages over the authority’s draft Local Plan, which outlines the city’s development up to 2030 and an annual aim of building at least 1,090 houses.

Green Belt land would be used for many developments and Coun Joe Watt, leading the Conservatives’ response to the plan, claimed the ruling Labour group wanted a “northern metropolis stretching from Huddersfield to York”.

Labour said the housebulding levels were needed to address York’s homes “crisis” and bring buying or renting within more residents’ reach.

Coun Watt said the housing calculations almost doubled 2011 estimates accepted by the council and were based on Labour’s “ideological preferences” and assumptions about work patterns, commuting and job growth, while wind farms would “pepper the Green Belt”.

He said: “Labour’s vision for York is not that of a small, historic city growing at a sustainable pace and linked closely to the surrounding countryside, but as a very junior and powerless outpost of the Leeds City Region.

“The Local Plan needs to be seen as part of council leader James Alexander’s own political ambitions, not necessarily what anybody believes is really in the best interests of this city.

“Labour only like heritage if they can market it as tourism, have absolutely no affinity with the countryside and no desire to run York for the benefit of anybody other than their traditional client groups. We will do all we can to make residents aware of the threats to their landmark city.”

Coun Alexander said: “I don’t think anybody really believes allocating an extra 1.8 per cent of green-belt land over 15 years, beyond that already identified in the previous unsuccessful plan, constitutes turning York into a suburb of anywhere, nor would I wish it to be – the Conservatives are effectively telling people to leave York if they aspire to get on.”

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for planning, branded Coun Watt’s views “hollow”, saying the Government supported ambitious house-building targets and Conservative-controlled East Riding of Yorkshire Council planned to build 1,400 homes annually.

He said: “What is party-political about wanting enough homes to give all residents a chance to buy or rent?”

• An eight-week consultation on the Local Plan begins on Wednesday and runs until July 31. More information is at york.gov.uk/localplan