A GOVERNMENT decision on whether to allow controversial plans for 550 homes in a marginal Tory seat is more than two months' overdue.

Eric Pickles, secretary of state for Local Government and Communities, set a deadline of November for a decision on the development in Ingleby Barwick, in the Stockton South constituency, in November, following a public inquiry in July.

But no decision has been made – and no timescale has been given on a decision.

A second public inquiry, on a further 550 homes on neighbouring land, is expected to begin in February and campaigners say this would be pointless without the first decision.

Louise Baldock, prospective Parliamentary Labour candidate for Stockton South, said she believed the delay over the decision to be political.

In a letter to Stockton council leader Bob Cook, she said: "Isn’t it a disgrace that we have still not heard back from Mr Pickles, Conservative Secretary of State on the result of the expensive planning enquiry for the building of 550 houses on nearby green wedge at Low Lane.

"His decision is two months overdue now. Surely he couldn’t be frightened of the political repercussions?"

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: “This is a complex planning case which needs careful consideration. A decision will be made in due course.

“Planning is a quasi-judicial process, and decisions are made only with due process in light of the material considerations.”

Jersey-based Tiviot Way Investments and Satnam Developments plan to build the homes on fields next to a planned new free school in Ingleby Barwick.

Stockton Borough Council initially refused planning permission for the free school due to the associated 350 homes, but the decision was overturned by a planning inquiry.

Once the 350 homes were passed, developers applied for permission for the 550 homes, which again was rejected by Stockton Council on the grounds it was on "green wedge" land separating Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby.

The planning inquiry took place in July last year after the developers appealed, and while waiting for a decision, they applied for permission for a further 550 homes, which again was rejected by the council. Following another appeal by developers the last application will be heard by a planning inquiry next month.

If all are approved by Government, it would mean an extra 1,450 homes for Ingleby Barwick on green fields off Low Lane.

Stockton councillor Ross Patterson, of the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society, said he believed the Government should be more transparent about the amount of money they were putting into the free school scheme, and how much was being funded by the developers.

The Stockton South constituency is expected to be a key General Election battleground in May, with the Conservative MP James Wharton having a majority of just 332 – or 0.7 per cent – in the last Election.

Mr Wharton was unavailable for comment.