HAMPSHIRE councillors are to debate today whether to back a £41million spending plan for a new school, hundreds of homes and a long-awaited bypass.

As previously reported, planning bosses are working on proposals for a new residential development which could see 650 homes and a new secondary school built on land west of Woodhouse Lane in Hedge End and 375 new homes on land north of Winchester Street in Botley.

Members of the Botley Parish Action Group (BPAG) are asking county councillors to set up a “wider and thorough” traffic and housing strategy before moving the plans forward.

According to the spending plan set to be discussed by councillors, £20 million to fund the secondary school proposed for land at Woodhouse Lane would come from the government’s Education Skills and Funding Agency.

Meanwhile, £6 million to fund the first phase of the Botley by-pass and £15m to fund infrastructure and utility work to provide servicing to the new school and the housing sites would come from the county council.

Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council are working together to deliver the schemes and have recently submitted a bid for £10 million aimed at delivering the Botley bypass.

Cllr Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, said: “There are still many planning approvals and funding issues to be solved but it is good to get the two councils working together on these major infrastructure projects.”

Cllr Roy Perry, leader of Hampshire County Council, said the authority is committed to creating a sustainable community, offering quality homes with access to good transport, a secondary school and community facilities.