CONTROVERSIAL plans for hundreds of homes on fields on the edge of Winchester are back on the cards once more.

The Chronicle can reveal the scheme to build 350 homes on the south-western edge of the city at Vale Farm has been appealed by developer Linden Homes.

The scheme had been rejected by the Winchester City Council planning committee last July because it breached policies, as there are enough designated sites, including Barton Farm.

The Linden scheme attracted objections from 468 people, and 98 letters of support.

One of those against the scheme is Winchester MP Steve Brine who accused Linden of ignoring local views.

Mr Brine said: "Winchester, unlike Eastleigh, has a signed-off local plan and is more than doing its bit to bring new homes to the area.

“This development would be too much for Winchester and walk all over clearly taken local decisions.

"Cllr Jan Warwick and I have spoken with so many people and we are clear this is not an appropriate application and it's high time Linden Homes starting respecting my constituents. In any scenario, you cannot keep asking the same question until you get the answer you want.”

Also against the scheme is city councillor Brian Laming, who represents Oliver's Battery. He said: "I think it would be extremely worrying if it was approved because it goes against Local Plan Part One and Local Plan Part Two.

"It would be totally bad because there are several parts to this, one is the traffic congestion with that stretch of road; it is bad enough as it is.

"If you look at the number of traffic lights there are from there to Kings' School it would be ridiculous, and also the traffic coming up from Badger Farm Road would be bad."

The developer previously argued that their plans would be a huge boost for the local economy and would create 525 construction jobs.

One of the supporters was Winchester councillor Ian Tait, an outspoken proponent of more housebuilding.

Cllr Tait said: "I understand why people have concerns about development because that is a natural reaction. But we have got to balance the challenge of protecting open land with the need to deliver high quality schemes.

"Linden Homes are an excellent deliverer they create good homes and develop good communities, I voted for it because it had the potential to deliver a high quality development and balanced the needs of the wider community with the requirement to deliver housing numbers."