A HAMPSHIRE town is “under siege” from developers wanting to build houses on sensitive areas of countryside, according to a council leader.
Government-appointed inspector David Hogger, who chaired the Welborne Plan examination last month, has opened a second examination of Fareham Borough Council's planning policy.
Seán Woodward, Fareham council executive leader, said that the policy aims to ensure that in addition to Welborne, development in the borough is directed at brownfield sites including the town centre.
The council will make representations at the examination, along with companies including Persimmon Homes and Hallam Land Management Ltd.
Mr Woodward said: “Fareham's existing core strategy sets out the borough's housing requirements for the period to 2026. In addition to the 6,000 homes to be provided at Welborne, the strategy requires 3,729 dwellings to be provided in the remainder of the borough in the period from 2006 to 2026.
“As we are already eight years into that period the majority of these dwellings have already been built or have planning permission.
“Fareham is under siege from developers and many of our most sensitive areas of countryside, including strategic gaps between our towns and villages, largely south of the M27, are under their control and they are fighting hard to get them allocated for housing.”
The inquiry could have implications for development sites across the area, with Mr Hogger due to hear representatives from Fareham council, development companies and individual residents over the next two weeks.
He will then decide whether the council's development sites and policies plan is sound or not.
The council says it is proposing to allocate housing in new sites in Fareham including on Redlands Lane, Fareham Park Road, Wynton Way, Gosport Road.
Fareham council leader Seán Woodward
Outside Fareham the council intends to have developments on land at Heath Road and the Genesis Centre in Locks Heath, as well as at Stubbington Lane in Hill Head.
And the council says developers are considering building on areas north and south of Funtley Road, Fareham, and off Greenaway Lane, Warsash, and Posbrook Lane, Titchfield.
The examination is being held at Fareham Civic Offices and will close on Wednesday, November 19.
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