A VILLAGE revolt against controversial major development proposals, which would have changed the face of Allbrook, have forced developers to go back to the drawing board.

After a heated public meeting last week, when scores of angry Allbrook villagers sent out a resounding "hands off our greenfields" message, Forelle Estates Ltd has withdrawn its outline planning application.

Edmund Nuttall Ltd and Forelle Estates were hoping to redevelop the current Nuttall plant hire depot and the site of the Victoria Inn with 24 flats, a community store plus an office block.

A further 66 houses were proposed on a greenfield site behind the historic Allbrook Farmhouse - a grade II listed building, once the 17th century home of Britain's first professional woman portrait artist Mary Beale - which would have been restored as a single dwelling.

Protesters, who had already handed in a 229-petition to Eastleigh council, raised a host of objections, with just one lone local voice speaking in favour.

However, while the villagers appear to have scored an initial victory, this may well only be the first round of the battle.

Managing director of Forelle, Mike Price, told the Daily Echo: "Our plans for Allbrook have now been the subject of over two months' consultation, both technical and general, culminating in the public meeting last week. We now have a considerable amount of information and comment to appraise, which will influence the scheme and is likely to lead to changes which are not best rushed.

"Withdrawing the current application allows us the time to complete this important next step before re-submission."

Villagers' spokeswoman Tina Scholey said: "We are pleased that they have withdrawn their application but we hope they will consult us before they put in their next application. We realise they are not going to go away, but as far as we are concerned, building on the greenfield site isn't a matter for negotiation."

Chairman of the borough council's Eastleigh local area committee Steve Sollitt said the public meeting had clearly given the developers food for thought.

He said: "It is very clear to me, as a local councillor for the area, that there are many wide ranging concerns about this application.

"By withdrawing the plan at this stage and considering the views of the locals, the applicant is starting to do what the residents wanted them to do in the first place - listen to them."