Proposals to build 1,420 homes on farmland are "premature" and fly in the face of public opinion, a public inquiry has heard.

The Secretary of State will have the final say on whether Jelson Homes and William Davis Homes can build on 183 acres of fields between Coalville, Whitwick and Swannington.

Stephenson Green would include a village centre, primary school, shops and offices and parks and woodland.

The inquiry, which opened on Tuesday, follows an appeal by the developers against North West Leicestershire District Council's failure to determine the plans, submitted in December 2010, within the required 13-week period.

The council argued the plans were premature since it has yet to agree a Local Development Framework (LDF) setting out where future housing will go.

It also said the site was designated as a "green wedge" in its existing local plan, barring development.

Christopher Young, for the council, told Government-appointed inspector Paul Dobsen: "It is difficult to imagine the Secretary of State would not want a development on this scale to be determined through the formal LDF process."

The authority's draft LDF, which is set to be agreed this year, proposes allocating land for more than 4,000 homes in the Coalville area, but safeguarding the green wedge.

The developers argued the local plan was "out of date" and that their scheme was needed to meet a housing shortage.

Lawyer Jeremy Cahill said: "The local plan was only ever intended to make provision for housing up to 2006.

"It has been clear Government policy since 2006 is to maintain a five-year housing supply, but North West Leicestershire District Council has only one."

More than 2,000 people signed a petition opposing Stephenson Green, saying it would destroy the distinct identities of their separate communities.

Janet Hodson, on behalf of Whitwick Action Group, said: "The green wedge is valued for its own sake."

Mr Young, for the council, said: "There is no denying the fact that the community is bitterly opposed to this proposal in a way which is difficult to imaging the Secretary of State will simply ignore."

The inquiry is expected to continue for three weeks.