A PUBLIC inquiry into plans for 1,200 homes on green-belt land in Edwalton has ended.

Closing statements were given yesterday by representatives of Rushcliffe Borough Council and appellants David Wilson Homes and Mr Brian Wells.

The planning inspector will now write a report for the Secretary of State who will make a decision on whether to allow the scheme.

If successful, work on the development near Sharphill Wood can start.

Andrew Hogan, for the council, said its position was not that there should never be a development in Edwalton.

Neither did it feel that other sites mentioned during the inquiry, such as Clifton and the Gamston Gateway, were better.

But the authority believed that any future housing plans should be made within the council's local development framework, which would be completed in 2012.

"If there is a theme underpinning the council's resistance to this appeal it can quite simply be stated: not this site, not this year," said Mr Hogan.

Dr Matt Cowley, of Notts Wildlife Trust also spoke on behalf of the council. He discussed what impact the development would have on wildlife, including badgers and skylarks, and the woodland.

"The Trust's position on this has remained consistent throughout," he said.

"This position is that without the permanent safeguard of the area to the west of Sharphill Wood, such as Spinney Hill, significant adverse impacts remain that are not compensated by the current plans."

Ian Dove, QC, representing the appellants, said the council should not rely on other local authorities to share its housing needs.

"The scale and nature of the housing requirements mean that unless decisions are taken in the development control process now, the council will be planning to fail," he said.

The inquiry at West Bridgford Community Hall was brought by the appellants against the council's refusal of plans on July 23 last year.

tanya.holden@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk