SMALL communities will be engulfed by developments if controversial plans for thousands of new homes go ahead, campaigners have warned.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Eastleigh Borough Council has revealed its proposals for where 4,700 houses could be built on greenfield sites over the next 18 years.

The draft local plan confirmed that sites at Stoneham Lane in Eastleigh, Boorley Green near Botley and Woodhouse Lane in Hedge End could be earmarked for developments totalling 3,700 homes.

On top of that, proposals for a further 1,000 homes at smaller greenfield sites around the borough were revealed last week for the first time.

The village of Botley is set to be particularly affected by the plans – and could be surrounded by up to 2,700 homes if the proposals go ahead. Eastleigh Borough Council has promised a longawaited bypass would be built in connection with any development, but residents say it’s not a price they’re willing to pay.

Chairman of Botley Parish Action Group Sue Grinham said: “They’re proposing 2,700 homes north of Hedge End – 1,400 at Boorley Green, 1,000 at Woodhouse Lane and 300 at Winchester Street.

“This is going to engulf Boorley Green completely and break us away from Botley – and we absolutely don’t want this as a price for the Botley bypass.

“Three hundred houses is the sort of level we would have supported for Botley but when you put it with the rest of what they’re doing it’s an absolutely outrageous amount.

“This is one of the most historic areas of the borough and it’s going to be changed forever.”

The plans released this week also revealed that up to 245 homes could be built in three smaller developments around Bursledon.

Bursledon parish councillor Diane Andrewes said: “Building at Providence Hill would ruin the views of the windmill from the rest of Bursledon.

“Blundell Lane is a very sensitive area and should be protected at all costs.”

Eastleigh Borough Council says the plans for developments are necessary to meet the demand for housing in the area.

A full public consultation is set to start at the end of this month and no building will go ahead until the proposals are approved by a Government planning inspector, who will not view the completed plans until 2013.

The draft local plan will be debated by Eastleigh Borough Council on Thursday, October 13.