CONTROVERSIAL plans to build almost 300 new homes on the outskirts of York have been given the go-ahead.

Members of City of York Council's planning committee were satisfied with revised proposals to build on the old Tenneco site, off Manor Lane, in Rawcliffe, after previously demanding improvements.

Applicants Barratt York and Persimmon Homes amended the application to bring down the number of homes from 286 to 277, provide more open space and improve landscaping. They also agreed to provide a greater spread of affordable housing units across the development - known as "pepper-potting".

But the chairman of Rawcliffe Parish Council, Richard Moore, told the meeting last night that the revised application was "inferior" to the one presented to planners last month.

He said they had concerns over drainage and claimed that parts of the development would present a traffic hazard to children. "We would also like to see the pepper-potting properly spread across the site," he said.

Coun Irene Waudby, whose house backs on to the development, said today she would keep a "close eye" on the work and attend liaison meetings with the developers.

"It was inevitable that it would go through," she said. "I'm still slightly dubious that we've got everything we wanted."

But at last night's meeting Coun Ken King praised council officers and developers on the revised application.

"I would like to congratulate them for their hard work in addressing our concerns," he told the meeting.

"I'm happy with the pepper-potting and believe it's common sense the way they are (affordable houses) distributed around the site."

Coun Ann Reid said: "I would like to thank them (applicants and officers) for increasing the amount of open space."

John Stroughair, for the applicants, told the meeting: "Hopefully members concerns have been addressed. We want to be good neighbours."

Updated: 11:45 Friday, April 25, 2003