A CRUNCH public inquiry over building 200 homes at an ancient Worcester beauty spot will take place in June - sparking hope the city will win its bitter battle with developers.

Your Worcester News can reveal how a vital planning appeal over Middle Battenhall Farm has been set for June 28, more than six months away.

And barring a disaster the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) is widely expected to be approved by an inspector in early 2016, which protects the land from homes.

The blueprint earmarks sites for 28,370 homes by 2030 but keeps Middle Battenhall Farm, dubbed "the most important green lung" left in the city, untouched.

In recent months there were growing fears the planning appeal would be held much sooner, and before the SWDP was signed off.

Although the end decision on Middle Battenhall Farm will be led by an independent inspector, having that crucial document in place should significantly benefit the city council.

Developer Miller Homes has faced a barrage of opposition from campaigners over the site, with more than 1,000 objections.

The firm decided to appeal to an inspector back in July after a 16-week time limit for the city council to say either 'yes' or 'no' over developing the land expired.

The city's planning chief Councillor Alan Amos has insisted the council will "fight" it tooth and nail, saying Worcester's green spaces are already under "unthinkable" pressure.

"We've already had to consider building on pieces of land that a few years ago would have been unthinkable," he said.

"Development is already taking place in areas where nobody thought we'd need to.

"But developers cannot do whatever they want, we've got a plan (the SWDP) and we will not go beyond that, otherwise what's the point of having a plan?

"We've got to prepare ourselves to fight it with as much vigour as possible - we can't go on destroying green land in Worcester because that's one of the very reasons people like coming here."

A spokesman Middle Battenhall Farm Land Action Group, which has protested vigorously against it, said: "Worcester is famous for being an historic city in the countryside.

"So it's right we do all we can to try and preserve this valuable site regarded as the city's last green lung and a valuable community asset."

Both the council and Miller Homes are now preparing their cases with legal experts, with an independent inspector also having to examine the objections.

The developer has said it was left with "no option" but to appeal after the council failed to make a decision.

A spokesman said: "Miller Homes believes its outline proposals for development at this location would provide a high quality and sustainable contribution to meeting Worcester’s identified housing need."

The public objections include a raft of organisations like the Ramblers Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Battlefields Trust and various conservation and heritage experts.

The site, popular with dog walkers, is home to a 900-year-old Scheduled Monument, with ancient ponds and a moat.

* See how the appeal was lodged HERE.