PLANS to build an 80-home development in a Hampshire community will 'make a bad situation worse' campaigners fear.

Councillors will decide whether to give developers’ plans for up to 80 homes on land in Bursledon the go-ahead after demolishing two homes on the site.

If approved it will add to a number of developments already in the pipeline for the area in the area, raising concern about how local infrastructure and particularly the already congested Hamble Lane will cope.

Persimmon Homes wants to build the homes, 35 per cent of them affordable and public open space, on land east of Hamble Lane and south of Mallards Road and says it is sustainable, carefully designed to fit the area and will contribute to housing need.

It follows 150 homes off Hamble Lane, just south of this site, being given the go ahead on appeal.

Councillors have approved 166 homes at Berry Farm, on the other site of Hamble Lane, and 182 homes on land south of Bursledon Road and residents are still waiting to hear the outcome of an appeal on plans for 225 homes and a care home.

They have raised concerns including increased traffic, the impact on highway safety, overdevelopment and the impact on local infrastructure and wildlife.

Hound, Bursledon and Hamble-le-Rice parish councils all object.

Mark McCormick (pictured), chair of Bursledon Parish Council, said this latest development added to the cumulative effect of development on Hamble Lane, a single carriageway road that is the only way to and from the Hamble peninsula.

“It can’t take any more traffic,” he said.

“It’s just absolutely ridiculous.

“It’s going to make a bad situation 20 times worse.”

However, he said until Hampshire County Council as the highways authority acknowledged problems on Hamble Lane there was a limit to what they could do.

He said it narrowed the gap separating Bursledon and Hound and made it more likely other sites would come forward.

“The gaps are getting smaller between the villages,” he said.

“Eventually there won’t be any green space on Hamble Lane.

“We don’t want to become like London in the countryside.”

This comes after a crisis meeting of more than 450 villagers back in March last year who said they feared they were “sitting ducks” at risk of being swamped by development.

Netley Abbey, Bursledon and surrounding villages are subject to eight planned developments - a total of around 1,000 homes.

A council officer’s report, recommending refusal, says though it helped the council meet housing targets, the loss of undeveloped land in a gap between Bursledon and Hamble would impact the identity of these communities and significantly harm the landscape.

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee discusses the plans today at Hamble Primary School at 6pm.

Persimmon Homes said while it was aware of the sensitive nature of Hamble Lane, there had been no objections from the council’s Highways team and the development would contribute towards local highways improvements.