Developers have criticised Bradford Council and claimed a thorough review of green belt land was not made when it compiled the area's building blueprint for the next 15 years.

House builders say that the team who drew up the Council's proposed replacement Unitary Development plan has not looked hard enough to see if exisiting green belt sites still need protection from development, a measure suggested by an inspector at a previous inquiry.

They also claim more land should be freed up for housing by altering the boundaries to make more green space available for development. The claims came as builders made their case at a public inquiry in Victoria Hall, Saltaire yesterday.

Roy Donson, for David Wilson Homes, said inspectors during the inquiry into the existing UDP three years ago had advised the Council to fully review existing green belt boundaries in the future with a view to making more land available for housing. Mr Donson claimed the Council had not done this effectively.

But the Council's group planning manager, Andy Haigh, said the Council had taken on board the advice of the previous inspectors and carried out a review according to guidelines.

Mr Haigh said some green belt boundaries had been altered but there was enough space designated for housing across the district.

The talks involved builders, Council representatives and Government inspectors. David Wilson Homes; the Housebuilders' Federation, Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd; Spawforth Associates and Turley Associates were represented.

The UDP proposes protecting as much green belt land as possible, with homes planned to be built on already used brown field or in-fill sites and in old mills and other developments. Once agreed, it will be the yardstick for planning applications across the district until 2019.

The inquiry is expected to cost £1 million and last until June. The inspectors will deal with almost 7,000 objectors covering some 700 issues.