AN MP has called on the Government to intervene on a proposed housing development before councillors have even made a decision on the plans.

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby has written to planning minister Brandon Lewis in case Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee make the “wrong decision” on plans for 85 homes at Meadow Vale.

Councillors on the committee will make a decision on the proposed housing development on green fields south of Ovingdean Road in Brighton on Wednesday January 28.

Mr Kirby and the resident-led Save The Deans group, who have strongly opposed the plans since they were first revealed by The Argus in February last year, have been further cheered by reports that council officers are expected to advise councillors to vote against the plans.

Initial plans indicated that developers were seeking to build up to 315 homes. However, the application to be considered later this month is for 85 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes on a 3.72 hectare site currently used for grazing horses.

Mr Kirby said he had asked his fellow Conservative MP to “call-in” the decision because he feared the local authority planning committee would fail to heed residents’ strong opposition to the “inappropriate” plans.

He said: “In the event that the planning committee does make the wrong decision and grants the application, I have already written to the planning minister asking for him to intervene and consider the case personally.

“I have not taken this decision lightly, but I have genuine concerns, shared by many local residents, that the city council is not giving due weight to the extensive local opposition to this application.

“People are opposed for a whole range of legitimate reasons and I have been clear that this development is completely inappropriate for this site.”

Mr Kirby’s move has been backed by fellow Conservatives in the city.

Councillor Mary Mears, ward councillor for Rottingdean Coastal, said: “I am fully supportive of this move and would like to thank Simon for taking this step to help protect this sensitive site which plays a vital role in preserving the distinctive village feel of Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Woodingdean alike.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “The report is a public document and will be available to view on the council website from Tuesday.

“It is not appropriate for the council to comment at this stage.”