The site allocations plan for Leeds – which sets out locations for up to 66,000 new homes in Leeds 2028 – was considered in a public examination held earlier this summer.

As part of the plan, Leeds City Council proposed protection from development for 33 sites in the green belt which had previously been identified as being the possible locations for 6,450 future homes.

This proposal had been put forward reflecting the council’s desire to protect the green belt as much as possible, as part of its commitment to reducing the overall housing targets for the city based on the latest local evidence.

Two independent government-appointed inspectors have now issued their interim views on the plan which support the council’s proposal.

The inspectors – Claire Sherratt and Louise Gibbons – suggested that the sites should not now be considered for future development and that the council is only required to provide housing needs up to 2023.

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Cllr Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning at Leeds City Council, said: “We are grateful to the inspectors for their hard work on the site allocations plan examination and we are delighted they have indicated support for the council’s approach to green belt protection.

“We know that we still need to build more homes throughout Leeds to meet the needs of the city as it continues to grow, and we are committed to as many of these as possible being affordable housing on brownfield sites.

“The site allocations plan aims to clarify which sites can come forward for housing in a sustainable way, and would put an end to speculative development in Leeds which is in nobody’s interest.”

Cllr Peter Gruen, chair of the development plan panel at Leeds City Council, said: “The inspectors have had a considerable challenge in considering the comments and views of thousands of people throughout this process, and the public hearings gave everyone the chance to tell the inspectors what they think and they have listened.

“We are now a significant step closer to adopting the plan and have clarity from the inspectors, which is very important.”