THE number of new homes could be cut by a third in Basingstoke and Deane each year under a proposal to be put before borough councillors.

The proposal to build fewer homes each year comes after residents said too many new dwellings had been built in recent years.

Under the South East Plan, imposed by the Labour Government, an annual target of 945 homes a year was set for the borough, but changes brought in by the Coalition Government have allowed local authorities to set their own targets.

The council’s Conservative administration is now supporting a figure of 594 homes a year. The proposal is due to be discussed by the planning and infrastructure committee on Thursday.

Conservative group leader Councillor Robert Donnell, said the “top-down” target imposed by the previous Labour Government is “dead”.

He told The Gazette: “We have listened to the people of Basingstoke and Deane who have said, ‘Slow down development’. We are responding to that and this is the first step to create the borough that people want.”

Over each of the last five years, an average of more than 1,000 new homes have been built in the borough. The new figure, once agreed, will form part of the council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) blueprint for the next 15 years.

Although the South East Plan still exists, last year the Coalition Government signalled, in the Localism Bill, an intention to abolish it and allow councils to set their own targets.

In response, the council carried out a new homes consultation between October and January to see what the public felt on housing issues.

It received 2,400 individual responses as well as opinions from 1,100 households, independently interviewed by researchers.

Cllr Rob Golding, Cabinet member for planning, transport and infrastructure, said: “Building new houses is an emotive issue and it is only right that we went back to the drawing board, reconsidering the high target we had been set and asking people what they thought was needed in our borough and their communities.

“Residents said they wanted to see fewer homes built in the future. We have listened and carefully balanced the need to protect the environment of the borough with the housing needs of our communities.”

Among other options to go before the council’s planning and infrastructure committee next week is an alternative proposal to build 722 homes a year up to 2027.

Comments from the committee will be given to Cllr Golding who will then look at all available housing sites and assess their suitability.

This process will form part of the authority’s LDF, which must be assessed by a national planning inspector before it can be adopted by the council.