AN APPEAL hearing into a controversial plan to build 80 homes on a green gap is under way.

The proposal to build at Mallards Road, Bursledon was originally put forward by applicant Persimmon Homes and was rejected by the Bursledon, Hamble and Hound Local Area Committee in January 2016.

Committee members feared the development would eat away at the green gap between Bursledon and the villages of Hamble and Netley.

But Ian Ponter QC, representing Persimmon, claimed the benefits of the plan outweighed any minor negative impacts.

He said it would provide affordable housing as well as create jobs.

Mr Ponter said: “The applicant maintains that there will be no material effect on the separate identities of either Bursledon or Hamble and the impact of the appeal scheme on the character of the area will not be significant.”

However, Paul Stinchcombe QC, representing Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “It is quite plain that the proposed development would, if permitted, erode the separation between towns.

“The change from countryside to housing would bring about major adverse changes to the countryside, gap and landscape and to people’s perception of them.”

Borough councillor Tonia Craig highlighted how the plan could have an impact on traffic, infrastructure, health and countryside.

She said: “This green area provides openness to an area which is usually clogged with traffic at peak times and weekends.”

She also added that “the fumes from extra vehicles will cause even more pollution to this area.”

Concerns about pollution and the traffic were also raised by residents.

Alistair Tritten, 78, retired, from Bursledon and member of the Mallards Road Action Group, said: “You can almost taste the diesel fumes in the air. The whole thing is going to be horrendous locally.”

Cllr Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “Lots of land is under threat in this area.

“We allocated sites for houses elsewhere in the borough as there is no need to add traffic congestion on the Hamble pensinsula.”

The proposal will continue to be discussed in the next few days at the Hamble Social Club and talks could last until the beginning of next week.