TWO councils have been criticised by conservationists.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said Ryedale and Richmondshire district councils were among 25 in the country allowing the growth of urban sprawl.
It said the councils allowed low density housing developments, mostly on greenfield sites rather than brownfield ones or property conversions.
Julie Stainton, CPRE planning campaigner, said that went against government policy for more land recycling.
Gary Housden, Ryedale's senior planning manager, said the CPRE information was out of date and that the council had a good record with 30 per cent of development on brownfield sites.
Councillor Jim Fryer, chairman of Richmondshire's planning and environment committee, said: "We might have a low density in terms of geographical area because we're one of the biggest districts in the country but with all new developments we have to go with the government guidelines and we do."
He said a lot of local development was on brownfield sites.
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