THE future of two of North Lancashire's biggest proposed housing developments remains in the balance after the Government demanded more information on both.

A public inquiry is to re-open into the Whinney Carr site in Scotforth after changes to guidelines on the number of new homes to be built locally were announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, a retirement village plan for the Pontins site, Middleton, has been approved in principle, but the Secretary of State, Stephen Byers, has asked for more information on three key issues.

Both sides are claiming a partial victory in the battle over Whinney Carr.

The council has welcomed an inspector's report recommending that 500 luxury homes are allowed on farmland to the south of Lancaster.

Green campaigners, who gathered more than 300 signatures in a petition to block plans to develop the green field site, claim that the scheme may well still be blocked by Mr Byers.

Green Coun Cllr Jonathan Sear, whose Lancaster City ward covers the site, said: "Given the scope of the debate at the public inquiry, I am not surprised that the Inspector found in favour of the development.

"However Stephen Byers is now asking the right question - 'is the new housing actually needed?'

"The answer to this question is clearly 'no', so I am fairly confident that the development can now be stopped.

"I only wish the Inspector had saved everyone a lot of time, effort and money by allowing the consideration this obvious issue at the original inquiry."

The future of the former Pontins holiday camp site has been a bone of contention for more than five years.

A £25 million plan to create a prison infuriated local residents and was scrapped at the last minute despite being approved by national planning chiefs.

A centre for refugees was also mooted.

The latest scheme would see the creation of a £50 million retirement village with a population four times that of the village.

However, the secretary of State, Stephen Byers, has asked for written representations on traffic plans for the site, including green traffic schemes, as well as proposals to restrict it to people aged 55 and over.

All those involved in the original inquiry have been given 21 days to respond in writing to the secretary of state on those three issues.

Concerns have also been raised over the lack of amenities for the site's residents.

The city council has admitted to concern over the delays and further costs to the council, but welcomes the planning inspectorate's decisions to recommend the approval of both schemes.

Planning chairman, Cllr Keith Budden, said: "We very much welcome the Inspector's recommendations but we are concerned by the further delay and additional costs caused by the Secretary of State's failure to make his mind up despite a full and public planning inquiry by HM Inspectorate on both occasions."