IT IS rapidly becoming the face of battle for our times here in Hampshire as well as elsewhere in the nation.

Today this paper reports on another large-scale house-building scheme for the area.

The project for Boorley Green would see nearly 700 more homes built, plus a school and shopping precinct.

The plans are in addition to a further proposal for a giant housing development near the village, bringing the total number of homes under proposal to about 2,000.

Good news for the under-pressure housing market and for the creation of jobs in the building sector? Undoubtedly yes.

Bad news for local residents and councillors who need their votes? It would appear so, judging by the rapid reaction against the proposals.

This is just the beginning at Boorley Green. The debates will be long and no doubt bitter.

Whether those objecting or those proposing win the day remains to be seen.

That Hampshire needs new homes is a reality.

Where they will appear we must wait for the dust of battle to subside to discover.