Car owners would be banned from moving into new city centre homes under proposals to be discussed this week.

City of York Council is attempting to refuse motorists tenancy of houses planned for Lawrence Street.

The suggestion has been criticised as an attack on the human rights of York residents.

Conservative leader John Galvin said: "There is only one word for this idea - rubbish.

"Surely everybody has a right to own a car and a right not to be discriminated against for owning one.

"I believe this is acting against the 1998 human rights act, which the Labour Government has signed up to, and it is going far too far."

The development of 18 houses and two bungalows is planned for land at the back of Bootham Engineers. They would be let to people on the council's housing list.

Councillors are intending to impose the car restriction when they consider the planning application on Thursday.

They are unable to impose a ruling that occupants could never own a vehicle while living in the homes because of difficulty of enforcing it.

But they are expected to say car ownership will be taken into account when considering nominations for tenancy.

The move is expected to strengthen the authority's policy of discouraging car use and promoting public transport and cycling. Only disabled occupants would be exempt from the condition.

Planning and transport committee chairman Dave Merrett said: "It is certainly not our intention to discriminate against people and I am disappointed by Mr Galvin's response.

"We are supportive of this because it does match our transport policies, but it is also because of poor access to the development which means we need to minimise car use."

He said many people on the council's housing list were without cars and the development would contribute to meeting housing need.

If it is imposed, the policy would be monitored and could be used in future housing developments.

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