THE public inquiry into a controversial planning development in York has been given a starting date.

The Guildhall will be the venue for a four-day investigation into an application to extend the business park at Monks Cross.

The inquiry, which has been previously postponed, will begin on September 27, with developers Monks Cross Partnership arguing they should be allowed to build on the site, which is in the city's green belt. The partnership wants to build a new site comprising up to 75,000sq ft of office space and a 6,000sq ft nursery.

The scheme has been heavily criticised by members of Huntington Parish Council, who oppose the project because they believed the village was already overdeveloped.

Richard Peak, director of the Helmsley Group, which is part of the partnership, said York was in great need of high-quality business space to attract firms to the city. The site would extend the 14-acre business park and bring as many as 2,500 jobs.

But Clive Woolley, chairman of Huntington Parish Council, said the body had registered to speak at the public inquiry and would be continuing to oppose the scheme. "We are objecting to the development. We think it is premature before the local plan is adopted. The site is in the green belt, so it is completely inappropriate, and overdevelopment of Huntington is major issue," he said.

The Monks Cross Partnership is developing the entire 40-acre Monks Cross North business site. It plans a £60 million business park with the potential to accommodate as many as 5,000 jobs. Phases one and two of the scheme, which saw a £12 million Norwich Union Life building and £9 million office complex, have been finished.

Updated: 10:40 Saturday, June 25, 2005