CONTROVERSIAL plans for up to 150 homes in Hampshire countryside have been given the green light on appeal.

Residents had pleaded their case before a Government planning inspector to uphold councillors’ decision to reject the proposal for land at Bursledon – but it fell on deaf ears.

Opponents have warned that the development would lead to more accidents on Hamble Lane while one councillor blamed Hampshire County Council’s withdrawal of objections on traffic grounds.

Taylor Wimpey wants to build homes on land off Hamble Lane, close to its junction with Portsmouth Road.

Members of the Eastleigh’s Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee opposed the plans last May amid concerns of loss of green space, that it did not fit with the area and the effect of construction on residents.

This led to the three-day public inquiry held by Government inspector Rupert Grantham last month.

Residents and councillors told the hearing about their|concerns that such development would lead to loss of the countryside gap between Bursledon and Southampton, an increase in traffic and pollution and pressure on local schools and |doctors.

But Mr Grantham concluded that the council had failed to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites and its policies for the supply of housing were therefore not up to date and the appeal should succeed.

He pointed to the “substantial injection” into the local economy during construction and additional £5m from the new households, and the need for affordable housing.

Hound resident Kim Sandom said: “It’s very disappointing. It’s going to be a total nightmare. There’s going to be accidents and loss of life on Hamble Lane.”

But he added that it highlighted the vulnerability of the area to such appeals without an up-to-date approved Local Plan for development in the borough.

Bursledon councillor Jane Rich said: “Unaccountable Government inspectors should not be able to over-ride the decisions of elected councillors.”

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said it was looking forward to delivering the development, which it said would “fulfil the recognised need for high-quality homes in the local area”.

Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said Taylor Wimpey had provided further information “to show how they could address the highways objections that had been made”.