COUNCIL chiefs pledged to delay building on Barton Farm in Winchester as long as possible.

It comes as they debated the latest draft of a 20-year district masterplan, which includes where to build more than 12,000 homes.

Campaigners trying to save the greenfield site lobbied cabinet members earlier today (January 28).

Beforehand, Cllr George Beckett, who leads the authority, said building on Barton Farm was the “least damaging” way to meet housing targets.

However, he brought along an amendment to delay using the site, which his Tory colleagues backed.

It said previously developed land should be used first, and Barton Farm would only be released at the end of the 20-year plan if the were no alternatives.

Cllr Beckett said: “This would allow the delaying of the triggering of Barton Farm until it was inevitable.”

Ann Gossling, of Save Barton Farm Group, said: “We are entitled in Winchester to better than the least worst option. We deserve the best for Winchester and that is not development on Barton Farm.”

She added that Andover Road, which links the city centre to the land, which could provide around 2,000 homes, was already jammed.

She said: “We are concerned that you do not vote to destroy this greenfield site which is an amenity to all, and part of the city’s unique landscape setting, without seeing what we will lose.”

Cllr Keith Wood, cabinet member for planning, said: “I’m sure a lot of serving members of the council know Barton Farm pretty well. In fact, I was walking there on Monday morning.”

Chris Slattery, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, also spoke against developing the site.

Alan Weeks, of the Winchester City Residents’ Association, went further by arguing Westminster’s housing targets should be rejected.

He said: “The reason that people come from abroad or from big urban areas is to relax, and so there’s an economic case to protect this heritage.”

Lib Dem leader, Cllr Therese Evans, queried if Cllr Beckett’s plan to delay Barton Farm would succeed.

“What I want to know is whether this would be defensible if a planning application came in tomorrow,” she said.

Her party colleague, Cllr Dominic Hiscock, then argued that extra schools would be needed if new homes were built.

Cllr Brian Collin, Lib Dem, then attacked plans for a ‘knowledge park’ at Bushfield Camp. He argued that sites for new firms should be provided closer to central Winchester, and not the outskirts.

Civic leaders are due to discuss the draft masterplan again on Thursday, February 12.