THE leader of a Hampshire council claims a controversial new 6,000-home development has protected other areas from new housing developments.

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, says a report proves that Welbourne will save green areas from being built on.

A report by a Government inspector examining future development in the borough has found that many green areas, like the land between Fareham and Stubbington, should be protected.

Cllr Woodward says the inspector's preliminary findings states inspector David Hogger does not see any need to look at extending the boundaries around communities as had been argued by developers.

Plans for the new Welborne community north of Fareham include four schools, 100,000 square metres of shops and major infrastructure developments, such as a new junction 10 on the M27.

But it has proved unpopular with many residents. The amended plan is currently out to public consultation.

A public inquiry was held by a Government planning inspector that looked at the overall plans for development in the borough, excluding Welborne which had been the subject of its own planning inquiry prior.

Inspector David Hogger, who also chaired the Welborne examination, heard representations from the council, individual residents and developers to decide if the council's plan was sound.

Council bosses want to allocate brownfield or undeveloped sites within the boundaries of existing urban areas for housing.

But developers argued their case for building houses on greenfield sites south of the M27.

Cllr Woodward said: “In his preliminary findings, an inspector has ruled that the greenfield sites put forward by developers in the whole of the borough should not be developed on.

“Having Welborne has protected every greenfield site in the borough of Fareham.

“Every single site that the developers and planning consultants came forward with to the second inquiry the inspector has rejected because we allocated sufficient housing in Welborne.”

He said he felt these findings vindicated the decision to press ahead with the Welborne plan to protect other areas.

He added: “The only way you get the required infrastructure such as three primary schools, a secondary school, a new motorway junction and all the open spaces and community requirements and community needs is to build 6,000 houses.

“You don't get it by adding on bits of development to communities filling in gaps between Fareham and its villages.”

However, anti-Welborne campaigner Shaun Cunningham, of Fareham, criticised Cllr Woodward's remarks and said he should apologise as they undermined the consultation process.

“Cllr Woodward should have the courtesy to wait for the final decision from the inspector before making such comments,” he said.

Councillors will be considering the new report from the inspector and deciding on its recommended modifications to the Fareham plan at a full council meeting on Tuesday before an approved version is sent out to public consultation.