YORK’S council leader has claimed London mayor Boris Johnson has supported controversial plans for 22,000 new homes around the city.

At least 1,090 houses are intended to be built each year up to 2030 under City of York Council’s draft Local Plan, which Labour says is needed to meet population growth, boost York’s economy and make housing more affordable.

Opponents say the targets are too high and will lead to much green belt land being lost.

In a letter to council leader James Alexander, Conservative politician Mr Johnson said housing had to be seen as “vital infrastructure” in the same way as transport, energy and high-speed broadband schemes.

He said: “New, good-quality and affordable homes are crucial if we are to house our cities’ workforces and attract the brightest talent from across the globe – if we fail to build the homes our cities need, there will be economic as well as social consequences for the entire country.”

Coun Alexander said Mr Johnson’s letter showed Labour’s housing plans for York, opposed by the council’s Conservative group, were not a party-political issue.