A PLANNING inquiry hit the road yesterday to visit fields where a developer hopes to build up to 220 homes.

The Government inquiry is looking into whether Bradford Council was right to turn down Persimmon Homes' scheme to build on land designated as urban green space at Cote Farm, Thackley.

It has been meeting at City Hall since Tuesday, with planning inspector Clive Hughes hearing arguments from both sides, as well as presentations by local residents, councillors and members of the Cote Farm Action Group.

Yesterday, Mr Hughes joined representatives of Persimmon Homes, Bradford Council and local residents to take a look at the site in person.

They inspected the fields where homes could be built, as well as local roads and the historic Grade II listed Cote Farm buildings.

Persimmon Homes hopes to secure outline planning consent for up to 220 homes on the farmland. It also hopes to secure full planning permission for the first phase of the scheme, which would see 60 homes built.

The plans have changed since they were turned down by Bradford Council last year. Then, Persimmon had wanted to build up to 270 homes, but the scheme has now been reduced in scale.

The inquiry is due to resume on Tuesday.