THE family behind a planning application for a 'green gap' north of Winchester that was thrown out by civic chiefs have said they will appeal.

The Welch family's outline proposal included 45 homes with 40 per cent affordable, eight self-builds, public open space and a barn which would be converted for community use on land off Harestock Road.

But on May 28 Winchester City Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the ideas amid fears it would destroy the leafy countryside between Littleton and Harestock.

Now the family has said they are going to appeal the decision and are urging their supporters not to give up hope.

Bernadette 'Bee' Welch, wife of Adam Welch who has led efforts to persuade the council, told the Chronicle: "It is possible to favourably consider sites like ours where they meet 'exceptional' need - which ours does.

"The community plan for Harestock and St Barnabas identifies the need for a youth facility for the 11-18-year-olds, housing and open space. Development on this site is the only effective way of delivering these facilities and we believe this sensitive design also preserves the function of the local gap."

Mrs Welch also thanked former Mayor of Winchester Cllr Eileen Berry for her passionate speech at the planning meeting, in which she said: "I have been on so many committees where it has been perfectly clear there is no real dedication to getting something off the ground.

"People want that facility and a permanent one."

Mrs Welch added: "Our supporters should not give up hope, we will be going to appeal. In the meantime we would urge them to write to their councillors James Byrnes and Paul Twelftree as well as parish councillor Patrick Cunningham and recommend they attend the North Winchester Community Forum meetings where they can hear about these issues first hand."

The forum was set up last year and meets at Weeke Primary School quarterly to discuss community issues.

Newly-elected Cllr Paul Twelftree admitted Harestock needs a community facility but said maintaining the gap is more important.

He said: "I'm disappointed they are going to appeal but not altogether surprised. I have opposed building on the green gap from before they put the application in.

"I don't think it could be doubted that our part of Winchester needs more community facilities. Harestock doesn't have much, this sort of facility would be very welcome, but it's fundamentally a development of 45 houses and that in my view is too high a price to pay for a community facility that the viability and the chance of it coming about have been called into question."

He added: "It's the right development but in the wrong place."

Fellow ward councillor James Byrnes echoes his views.

He said: "As I made clear at planning committee, the community facility offered was offered only as a quid pro quo for the housing - it was in the wrong location, unfunded, and there was no firm interest in the building at the time of the application.

"It would be unwise to allow development of such a valuable (in amenity terms) site in return for something that may not amount to anything in the fullness of time. The application was fundamentally a housing application and the addition of the community facility was just, in my view, smoke and mirrors to distract from the actual offering."

He added that he sympathises with the Welch's, who have owned the land for around 60 years, but is unable to support their application.

Littleton and Harestock Parish Council have yet to comment.