GOVERNMENT has backed Lancaster City Council's tough stance on restricting housing development in the district.

The city council had refused planning consent for Fairclough Homes to build 127 new homes on part of the former Hornsea Potteries site because it had met its housing supply targets to 2006.

The decision went to a public inquiry, but the Government has reached the same conclusion.

Giving full weight to the council's position on housing supply, a planning inspector felt it had a strong system in place for monitoring new builds and rejected an appeal by the builders.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Roger Sherlock said he was delighted the decision had been vindicated'.

The Government decided last year that no more new land needed to be developed for housing in Lancaster District until 2006.