FRESH targets for the number of new homes to be built in York each year are set to be approved next week.

City of York Council’s controlling Labour group wants to outline building 800 new properties annually through the city’s Local Development Framework (LDF), instead of the 575 agreed by the previous Liberal Democrat administration.

The issue will be debated by the authority next Thursday, but opponents have claimed the increased targets could threaten York’s Green Belt.

Coun Dave Merrett, city strategy cabinet member, vowed the plan would “protect the historic setting of the city”.

He said: “This is a big step forward for the city in ensuring a sound local planning framework which will deliver more housing for York over the next 20 years.

“Local businesses have been calling for the average 800 housing units per year, which itself is lower than the 1,200 cited as needed to deliver the necessary affordable housing the city requires, but we need to move quickly to get an agreed plan in place and are therefore compromising on the numbers.

“We will also make better provision for student and young people’s accommodation, relieving pressure on existing starter and family homes.

Land will be earmarked for potential urban expansions at Monks Cross and north-east of Osbaldwick in the last five years of the 20-year plan period.”

Coun Merrett said building on brownfield sites would be made the priority and the plan could include a new stray north of Osbaldwick and more open space east of Heworth Without and to the north and south of Monks Cross.