IT IS one of the most controversial housing plans in Hampshire.

Now one civic boss has given the clearest hint yet that the 2,000 home plan on the outskirts of Winchester will go ahead.

The Barton Farm scheme on farmland on the northern edge of the city has attracted thousands of opponents.

It would be the biggest housing scheme in the city for some 30 years. Its sensitivity can be seen by the fact that only city councillors not seeking re-election have come out in favour although in private many support the scheme.

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A crucial new factor has come with the Government announcement on Thursday to increase the number of new homes for Winchester district.

As part of its South East Plan Review, Winchester is now required to provide 12,740 homes over the next 20 years, an increase of 500 from the panel report figure, and an increase of 2,301 from the original 2006 draft plan.

Cllr Beckett said: "The Government's decision to increase housing numbers for the Winchester district has made our job more difficult and amounts to an instruction from Westminster to build on greenfield land to the north of Winchester'."

"Unless other options emerge, that may compel development at Barton Farm."

He added: "We are committed to providing a sound framework for local planning (the local development framework) but these increases will make it harder to do so without greenfield development".

Steve Brine, prospective parliamentary candidate, was at odds with the Tory-controlled city council: "This is the wrong site for 2,000 new houses and will do nothing to address affordable local housing need. It is part of the wonderful landscape setting of our city centre and no matter what infrastructure accompanies its development, I don't believe the present road network, public services, train station and even our supermarkets can cope."