HUNDREDS of residents are packing a meeting over a controversial housing development near ancient woodland tonight.

Community and council bosses are presenting their arguments about a scheme to build 5,200 new homes, shops, schools, open spaces and a new access road in the area to the north and east of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, at a council meeting tonight.

Before taking part in the meeting, dozens of residents protested outside the Kings Community Church in Hedge End in a bid to change the intention of Eastleigh Borough Council to indicate the area as the preferred location for the new development. 

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, the plans have sparked a fierce debate among residents and naturalists because of the proximity of the proposed development to ancient woodland such as Upper Barn and Crowdhill Copse woods.

Plans, which are known as options B and C in the borough’s Local Plan, have also been objected to by hundreds of residents who set up an action group called Action against Destructive Development Eastleigh (ADD).

They argue that the council has chosen “the worst possible place in the borough” to build the development.

However, the final decision on the plans could be made as late as this winter after the council has considered the results of surveys aimed at showing the impact that the development could have on transport and environment.

As previously reported, the borough council is expected to build 14,580 homes by 2036 to help meet a shortfall in housing across south Hampshire.