A COLDEN Common housing development is on hold until councillors have had the chance to take a look around the site.
The Apex Centre is being eyed for 14 new homes, but council planning chiefs say they need a better look at the site before assessing the application.
The existing commercial buildings off Church Lane would be demolished and there is concern that nearby Finches Copse would be affected.
Council planning policy also restricts the demolition of potential employment sites for the sake of housing and a council report recommends the application be refused.
Addressing Tuesday's (November 27) hearing, Colden Common parish chairman, Cecily Sutton, said: “The officer's report is unduly negative, open to opinion and erroneous.”
Cllr Eileen Berry also dismissed concerns. She said: “The site is manifestly not countryside in the true sense and most residents work in the main employment sites surrounding Colden Common, such as Eastleigh, Southampton or Winchester. This is the reality of the situation.”
A site visit has been scheduled for December 11.
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