A CONTROVERSIAL development of some 655 homes has cleared its final hurdle – ending a planning saga stretching back nearly 20 years.

The development at Germany Beck, on the edge of York have been given the go-ahead and developers say the scheme can now move ahead “immediately”.

The site, on the southern edge of the city is claimed to be the site of the Battle of Fulford in 1066, immediately preceding the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings.

Plans to build on the site, which opponents say is a flood risk, first emerged in the mid 1990s. More detailed plans were unveiled in 2001 and the development was approved in principle in 2007 following a public inquiry.

Now City of York Council’s planning committee has backed Persimmon Homes and Hogg the Builder’s reserved matters application, covering detailed issues such as the design and layout, by 13 votes to two.