CIVIC chiefs are set to approve plans for a £1bn development which will provide 6,000 homes as well as creating more than 5,700 jobs.

Buckland Development has submitted an outline application to build houses, schools and industrial buildings on a huge area of land north of Fareham.

The Welborne Garden Village scheme, expected to take more than 20 years to complete, has sparked a large number of objections.

But members of the borough council’s planning committee are being urged to approve the scheme when it meets on Wednesday.

Artist's impressions of the proposed development have been released ahead of the meeting.

About 30% of the homes are due to be affordable. The scheme also includes a secondary school and three primary schools, plus a district centre and a smaller village centre. Commercial, industrial and employment space is also planned, together with improvements to the A32 and junction ten of the M27.

Connections to the surrounding cycleway and pedestrian networks also form part of the application.

Objectors say the proposed site is too close to existing communities, claiming the amount of land available is insufficient to accommodate all the essential ingredients of a new community. Other protests centre on the loss of countryside and the resulting threat to wildlife.

But a council spokesperson listed the benefits of the scheme, including the 5,735 jobs set to be created by offices, light industrial units and warehouses.

Major improvements to the road network are also planned.

The spokesperson said: "Currently it is not possible to join the M27 at J10 to travel towards Southampton. The new design will remedy this, turning J10 into an all-moves junction.

"There would also be changes along the A32 with three roundabouts introduced to provide access into the Welborne development along with an eastern exit from the existing roundabout at Knowle Road.

"Modelling has shown that the proposed changes to the A32 will reduce current levels of traffic congestion considerably, even before the J10 works are completed."

The spokesperson said the proposed new homes would range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom family homes.

"All homes will be set in well-designed, generously proportioned streets in four distinct character areas. There will be a wide range of convenient walking and cycling routes, connecting homes to local facilities, the village and district centres, schools, shops, employment sites, parks and open spaces."

"Around £308m in infrastructure will be required to deliver Welborne and these costs must be borne by the developer."