DEVELOPERS offering huge sums for back gardens has been a "nightmare" setting neighbour against neighbour, Conservative local government spokesman Caroline Spelman claimed during a visit to Hampshire.

Mrs Spelman was in Hedge End to support Eastleigh Conservative candidate Conor Burns' pledge to reduce so-called infill development.

As they viewed a site in Hobb Lane where Pride Homes are constructing seven new houses where one home previously stood, neighbour Nicola Pearce told the shadow minister the development had "ruined" her environment and that she would be moving.

Mrs Spelman said: "You are one of the casualties of the situation. But it is happening up and down the country and it is altering communities."

The Daily Echo recently highlighted the situation in Winchester and Kings Worthy where householders are being offered sums of up to £500,000 for parts of their back gardens by developers.

Mrs Spelman added that the classification of back gardens as "brownfield" sites was wrong, as was John Prescott's increase in the number of homes which could be built per hectare.

"If you are the unfortunate person blighted by this kind of over-development it is soul destroying."

She promised changes if the Conservatives won the General Election.

"What we would do is push back these housing densities to a maximum of 20 units of accommodation per hectare rather than the 30 to 50 we have now.

"We would also change the definition of people's back gardens from brownfield land - brownfield is previously developed land like industrial wasteland.

"If someone knocks your door and says 'I will give you £1m for your back garden' people find it very difficult to refuse. But it leaves a legacy for their neighbours."

Mr Burns said: "I see our community through the eyes of a local resident living in Granada Road and have seen the roads getting more congested and local kids not getting into a local school. All of that is down to the madness of this excessive infill development."

But Mr Burns made it clear the Conservatives were not "having a go" at Pride Home.

A spokesman for Pride Homes declined to comment.

For more on the 2005 General Election campaign see pages 8 & 9 of today's Daily Echo.