A PARISH council is tonight faced with one of the biggest questions in its history.

Controversial plans are on the table to build more than 300 homes and a bypass north of Beverley.

Molescroft Parish Council will vote on what recommendation it passes to East Riding Council planners.

David Wilson/Barratt Homes wants to build 162 homes and a new road north of Driffield Road. Linden Homes has applied to construct 145 properties off Woodhall Way.

Driffield Road resident David Tucker, of North Beverley Action Group, said: "The council can meet its housing land needs for the next five years with land already approved for house building.

"The agreement to build the town's southern bypass creates the opportunity for the council to consider how it wishes the town to develop over the coming years and the forthcoming review of the Local Development Framework must guide its planning policy.

"Beverley must not allow itself to be bounced into approving plans by speculative builders and opportunistic farmers which are designed solely for their profit and not for our town's sustainable future."

David Wilson Homes says its scheme would bring £25 million of construction investment, create 300-plus jobs and deliver more than £2 million to the local economy.

Its £4 million bypass would link the existing roundabout at Grange Way to a newly built roundabout on the B1248 Malton Road at Constitution Hill.

Linden Homes scaled back its plans from an initial proposal to build 164 homes.

The meeting at Molescroft Pavilion starts at 7.30pm.