ANCIENT Hampshire woodland earmarked by a developer for 300 homes is safe for now.

It comes after Test Valley councillors wielded the axe on Taylor Wimpey’s plans to fell part of Great Covert Copse at North Baddesley and dump hundreds of unwanted homes on the site off Castle Lane.

Councillors voted unanimously to throw out the controversial scheme which attracted widespread opposition across North Baddesley, Valley Park and Chilworth.

Residents opposed to the plans fear that if the historic woodland – which forms a local green gap between Valley Park and North Baddesley – is lost the two communities will eventually become one massive housing development.

Debating the plans at last night’s Test Valley Borough Council southern area planning committee, councillors agreed the application would have an adverse impact on the green gap leading to its demise. They also attacked the proposed use of 24 acres of the ancient woodland site for housing and deemed it unsustainable development.

Leading the battle to stop the proposals going through was Celia Dowden who urged her colleagues to support planning officer Rachel Illsley’s recommendation to refuse the scheme and paid tribute to the work the officer had put into producing the report to councillors.

Deputy borough leader Martin Hatley said that the authority was in a good position to refuse the application because the council had an adequate supply of land for housing needs and there was no need for countryside development at this location.

He pointed out that it would harm the countryside and would have an adverse affect on the landscape.

Before the debate the applicant’s agent, Jacqueline Mulliner, told the committee that the planned 300 homes were much-needed and only the proposals put forward by Taylor Wimpey would secure some of the 203-acre Great Covert Copse woodland for public recreational use.

A speaker from Romsey and District Society’s Natural Environment committee urged councillors to block the plans to protect the green gap and important wildlife such as bats and nightjars that frequent the woodlands.