HUNDREDS of campaigners met to protest the building of homes near Winchester.

A development of nearly 100 homes in Otterbourne by Gladman Developments could still be pushed through despite being refused by councillors.

Winchester City Council planning committee originally rejected plans for 90 homes on land off Main Road in November.

The developer has since appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for the decision to be overturned.

The Save Otterbourne action group have been backed by councillors who say the development goes against the Winchester City Council Local Plan.

The development was refused on the grounds that it would be "detrimental" to the landscape and rural setting of the village, and that it would extend development outside the built-up area of Otterbourne into an area of countryside.

The group met at the proposed development site behind The Old Forge, led by Save Otterbourne organiser Carol Hawkins and Caroline Dibden of the Hampshire branch of Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Also in attendance were Winchester city councillors Eleanor Bell and Brian Laming, as well as parish councillors.

Ms Hawkins said: "People feel strongly about issues relating to the infrastructure, like draining and flooding, as well as road capacity and safety.

"The school is oversubscribed and we need a GP surgery. The 90 extra dwellings will increase our size by 22 percent.

"What is really making people feel angry is property developers are going to come in and walk all over anything that is in place locally.

"What is the point of a village plan and working with Winchester City Council if a commercial venture who does not know the area and just wants to make money comes in?

"I have lived here in this village for 20 years and I have never seen this many people come together, which shows how strongly the village feels."

Ms Dibden said: "CPRE Hampshire fundamentally opposes this sort of speculative application and appeal, an approach for which Gladman are sadly renowned across the country.

"This site falls outside all of Winchester’s plan-making processes, which are up-to-date and have been undertaken with the full co-operation and consent of the community.

"In their appeal statement Gladman have implied that the latest housing numbers would mean that Winchester could not meet its 5-year land supply target.

"They are incorrect in this assertion, as the latest numbers show that there has been a slowdown in household growth, and the most-up-to date figures are less than they were 2 years ago."

The developer says the scheme will include up to 40 per cent affordable housing and a variety of housing, public open space will be provided on site including a children’s play area.

Steve Brine MP said; "This is no different to the Pitt Vale debacle where a developer seemingly thinks you keep on keeping on until you get your way.

"Winchester has an agreed Local Plan and Gladman, like Linden, need to respect that and the wishes of their locally elected representatives.

"This development is not wanted in Otterbourne and, above everything else, it’s our decision to say no thanks. The sooner that message is understood the better."