University of York - Green-belt intrusion condemned

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has branded the University of York's multimillion-pound expansion project as one of the UK's worst examples of building on green-belt land. The East Heslington scheme, which was approved by government ministers last year, will take up 289 acres of green-belt land in York. The campaign highlighted the scheme last week as one of the top 12 worst-offending developments in the country in terms of loss of green-belt land. The project is part of the university's plan to increase its number of students to 16,500 by 2020. The university said it would create more than 8,000 jobs in York and inject £185 million a year into the city's coffers. A spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State agreed with the university's view that the campus expansion will make an exceptional educational, economic and social contribution to the local community, the region and the nation."