A HOUSING developer is to make its most determined push yet to build more than 2,000 homes on the edge of Winchester.

Cala Homes will seek permission from the city council to build on Barton Farm, the wedge of farmland on the northern side of the city.

The decision by Cala to test the council's resolve over the controversial issue will re-energise the Save Barton Farm campaign, which has attracted thousands of supporters.

Until now the city council has firmly opposed any development at Barton Farm but recently has accepted that over the next 20 years there will have to be major house-building around the city.

Cala told the council before Christmas that it intended to seek approval for 500 homes at Barton Farm.

However, Cala director Mike Emett told the Daily Echo that now it was preparing to submit an application for 2,500 homes in late 2008, with a decision expected in 2009.

Mr Emett said the situation had changed with the publication of the council's first draft of a planning blueprint until 2026.

Mr Emett said: "The council has published the first draft of its strategy. It was very encouraging for us.

"That has led us to abandon our previous strategy of an application for a small number of units. We now hope to work with the council on a scheme for the whole site. We want to work with the council and the community. Towards the end of 2008 we should be in a position to be able to submit a proposal."

Gavin Blackman, chairman of Save Barton Farm Group, said he always knew the threat from Cala would return.

"The arguments that have to be faced up to in the future are now being brought forward. We are pretty confident that we have robust arguments to protect the land.

"There is so much in the melting pot. The group will be coming back into action this year."

Mr Blackman said the land was still protected under the district plan which runs until 2011.

Meanwhile, growing public interest in the future of the district was shown by some 200 people turning up to the public meeting in Bishop's Waltham over the local development framework which will run until 2026.