BIRDS Eye has been accused of refusing to sell the land that housed its former factory site at a reasonable price.
An appeal hearing began yesterday after the company was refused planning permission to build 185 homes, along with some light industrial units, on the site off Hessle Road, west Hull.
At the hearing, at Kingston House in Bond Street, which was led by planning inspector Richard Clegg, Hull City Council revealed commercial developer Wykeland had offered Birds Eye £1.45m for the land.
Birds Eye has argued the site has attracted very little interest for industrial use and is far more commercially viable for housing.
But in his opening remarks, barrister Ian Ponter, for Hull City Council, said: "The site is neither unattractive or unviable.
"It has been the subject of a reasonable offer from a reputable developer of employment premises.
"That offer suggests employment development is a viable proposition for the appeal site."
Principal planning officer Roger Gray was called as a witness and felt it was a serious offer from Wykeland.
He said: "There was a question mark over the developer's will to sell the site at a reasonable market value.
"Wykeland was very close to the market value and we felt it was a very competitive offer."
The site has been empty since the firm's pea processing plant closed in 2007.
The council's planning committee rejected the plans earlier this year, claiming the land is important for creating jobs.
The scheme had already been recommended for refusal by planning officials and councillors voted to refuse the plans by nine votes to five.
At the appeal, Marianne Griffiths, representing Birds Eye, insists there is little interest in the site for employment use.
She said: "The Birds Eye site has been vacant since 2007. Since that time, no real interested has been shown for redevelopment for employment use.
"By contrast, the site has generated a significant level of interest from house-builders.
"Development of the site, in part, for residential development would meet a significant need in the city.
"Furthermore, the provision of housing development will enable part of the site to be developed for employment uses."
But Mr Ponter insisted the application breached the development plan and there was scope to use the land for industrial use.
This is the second appeal, after a previous application by Birds Eye for 260 homes was rejected in 2010. On that occasion, the planning inspector upheld the decision to reject the application.
A petition was signed by 130 residents backing plans for the 185-home development at the Hessle Road site earlier this year.
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