A CAMPAIGN to halt a £7.5m housing development in Abbotts Barton looks set to suffer a another blow.

Residents angry at plans to build affordable homes on the green at Dyson Drive applied to Hampshire County Council for village green status, in the hope of protecting it from development.

But the application, sent in autumn last year, looks unlikely to go through, according to a city councillor.

Cllr Dominic Hiscock, who represents the area, said: “I think it’s optimistic and I don’t think it will pass. My view is that you have to have more housing for people to live in, and this is not a bad site for it to be. The green adds to the area but I’m not sure it’s vital, although affordable housing is.”

In March, civic chiefs endorsed a planning framework that will guide the development of 50 new homes in the area, but residents slammed the document.

Speaking at the time, Neil Townsend, of the Abbotts Barton Community Development Action Group, said the document was based on “flawed logic”.

He said: “We were promised by Mr Tait (the city’s housing boss) that the framework would address our concerns and we’re bitterly disappointed.”

The plans are part of an overall programme to build 350 affordable homes in Winchester over the next 10 years.

The plans for Abbotts Barton at will affect a mix of open space and garages in Austen Close, Dyson Drive, Charles Close, Hussey Close, Hillier Way and Colbourne Court.