A ROW over plans for a massive housing estate escalated today when a leading builder accused Selby's MP of wasting taxpayers' money.

The dispute over proposals to build 1,100 homes at Sherburn-in-Elmet has been simmering for several weeks.

But the gloves came off today when York-based developer Persimmon Homes said Labour MP John Grogan's call for a public inquiry into the scheme was "bureaucracy gone mad".

Mr Grogan claimed the project, on 110 acres of greenfield land, flew in the face of new Government policy, which stressed that large-scale housing developments should be concentrated in urban rather than rural areas, and in towns, not villages.

After Selby council's planning committee approved the application on Wednesday, a furious Mr Grogan said he would be pressing the regional Government office to hold a public inquiry. But Persimmon Homes managing director Ian Hessay said today he was very disappointed with Mr Grogan's stance.

He said: "Selby Council has already spent £500,000 of taxpayers' money on a public inquiry into the local plan. "The inquiry inspector approved the scheme and recommended it be retained in the plan.

"It's very disappointing that after we have gone through a six-year planning process, a politician is now asking for a second public inquiry. It's a complete waste of taxpayers' money.

"House price inflation in Selby is rife and new houses are needed to stabilise the market."

The ruling Tories on Selby Council are backing the £100 million housing scheme, saying it will provide more than 200 much-needed affordable homes.

They also argue that the few urban "brownfield" sites left in Selby would only accommodate 1,100 new homes over the next 14 years - far below the number required.

Mr Grogan said: "The local plan public inquiry was held before the change in Government planning policy.

"This development will increase the size of Sherburn by 40 per cent. It will change the village forever and should be rejected."

Updated: 11:33 Saturday, September 27, 2003