BOOMTOWN Fair has won permission to increase its capacity from 50,000 to 60,000.

Winchester City Council licensing committee yesterday allowed the festival to expand in time for the event from August 11-14.

There was more good news as the South Downs National Park has given landowner Peveril Bruce permission to stage events at Cheesefoot Head. He had previously relied on permitted development rights.

The licensing committee heard that BoomTown has worked hard to met local objections.

Philip Kolvin QC, for BoomTown, said it has grown in eight years from being organised on a kitchen table to having 26 permanent employees with 11,600 working at the event itself, including 700 on security.

This year's event is already sold out with an extra 8,500 tickets to be sold. The 60,000 figure includes staff and revellers.

The organisers point out that above 40,000 ticket sales 40 per cent of attendees must arrive by public transport.

There will be no change in licensable activities, change in hours or permitted noise levels.

The site will be expanded with a new car park exiting onto the A272, a family and disabled camping area next to the Cheesefoot Head car park and extra car parking near the Matterley Basin.

Mr Kolvin said the event worked well with the police. "My client has a very close relationship with the police at operational and commander level. The police are fully on board with the increase and have made no representations. that is very significant for a licensing authority."

Meanwhile South Downs National Park approved the application for land to be used for music festivals, endurance running and motocross events until December 31 2019.

Mr Bruce made the application because the setting up and taking down of BoomTown was taking more than the 28 days he was allowed under permitted development rights.

The planning committee, sitting in Midhurst in Sussex, gave temporary permission.

Natalie Fellows, of SDNP, said: "We will be reviewing it and will see how it goes this year. We will be monitoring the situation."

She said members were attracted because of the younger age range of people visiting the park during the BoomTown event.

"The event attracts an under-represented group of people who don't usually come to the national park. It's an aspect members were keen on. Hopefully some will come back and enjoy its special qualities."

The committee approved the plan as long as the area's primary purpose of agricultural use was retained for most of the year.

The authority received 225 letters in support and 25 objections including parish councils at Beauworth, Cheriton, Itchen Valley, Owslebury and Tichborne.

Objectors point out that the permission allows non-agricultural use for up to 22 weeks of the year. BoomTown needs nine weeks for setting up and removal.

In a statement BoomTown said: "We are delighted to have been granted this licence. It has been a long road with the licence and the planning for Matterley Estate happening at the same time.

"However, through working closely with Matterley, Winchester City Council, South Downs National Park and other responsible authorities, we have managed to gain the licence we were hoping for, whilst ensuring any concerns from the authorities have been satisfied through additional or amended conditions to the licence and can now look forward to opening the gates on two months time."

Mr Bruce said: "It is very helpful to have less uncertainty but we have always been confident whilst working with the authorities that this was a win-win for all."

he said he thinks the event can get much bigger although he declined to put a figure.

"I still remain absolutely confident this site is well able to cope with higher numbers. I would not like to put a figure on it. I don't see a limit."

Asked if one day it could be as big as Glastonbury which a licence for 150,000 people Mr Bruce said: "I have no idea what the future of BoomTown might be. But I'm confident this site is well able to cope with significantly more numbers then they are currently permitting us."

But disappointed with the decision was city councillor Sue Cook, who represents Twyford. She said: "I'm frustrated the committee has not listened to people. My fears is that this is the start of something getting even bigger. In three years will they want another 10,000 and soon we will have another Glastonbury on our doorstep. The road infrastructure is just not manageable."