PLANS to build 1,100 homes on the site of a former British Sugar factory have been thrown out.

Councillors in York unanimously rejected the company's pans for the 100-acre site in Acomb - which has been derelict for ten years.

The company does not propose to build any houses that could be afforded by people on lower incomes - but councillor after councillor said it was critical that it did.

And they also rejected the outline plans on other grounds including a lack of necessary infrastructure.

Cllr Ann Reid said people could not believe that a site as big as the British Sugar plant could not support some affordable houses.

And Cllr Andy D’Agorne said: “Affordable housing on this big site is critical in terms of providing our need for it in this city.”

British Sugar claims that the costs of preparing the site, derelict since 2007, makes it impossible for it to construct affordable houses.

A Government planning inspector will hold a public inquiry into the plans from January 16.