A public inquiry will be held into two appeals for plans to build 116 new homes and a 72-bed care home on Green Belt land in St Albans.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, will re-examine the pre-existing appeals concerning developer, Hunston Properties, proposals for development on land at Harpenden Road, Sewell Park, St Albans, near St Albans Girls School.

This announcement comes after the appeal against the council's refusal of planning permission was heard by an inspector in February 2013. The council and a Government planning inspector have rejected the proposals as "inappropriate" in the Green Belt.

In December last year, The Court of Appeal in London backed a September High Court ruling in which Judge Pelling QC, sitting in Manchester, gave developer Hunston Properties a second chance at securing planning permission.

Following two appeals by Hunston Properties, the final decision is now in the hands of Mr Pickles. A date and venue for the public inquiry is yet to be confirmed.