HAMPSHIRE is today set for its biggest environmental battle since the protest over the M3 extension at Twyford Down, nearly a decade ago.

The controversial county Structure Plan, which opens the floodgates for the building of thousands of new homes on Hamp-shire's green fields, has finally been adopted by the county council - amid a storm of protest.

A blueprint for the next 11 years, the plan paves the way for up to 56,000 new homes to be built across the county in the coming decade.

Some 42,000 of these have already been allocated and accepted by local authorities.

But included in the plan are reserve proposals for an additional 14,000 homes to be built across the county if needed.

Development on the reserve list includes 2,000 homes for the prime green fields of Barton Farm, in north Winchester.

Also included are 2,000 extra for Basingstoke, 1,000 for an area west of Waterlooville, 2,500 for the Eastleigh area, 1,000 for the southern Test Valley and 500 for the New Forest.

Southampton is set to agree its separate Structure Plan today. It is required to accept 7,330 new homes within its boundaries - with a number achieved through inner city regeneration.

But even as the Hampshire decision was made by the county council yesterday, environmental protesters warned: "We are down but not out."

They have vowed to take legal advice on challenging the decision within the next four weeks.

Ted Grant, director of Hampshire's council for the protection of rural England, said: "I hope we can persuade them to listen and build as few homes as possible on green fields. We want them to withdraw all references to specific reserve areas."

And Winchester residents, in a last-minute bid, tried to withdraw a clause describing the green fields of Barton Farm as a reserve major development area, with permission for up to 2,000 homes.

"It will be a blight on the city for ever," said Gavin Blackman, of the Save Barton Farm group.

But though supported by Liberal Democrats, including city MP Mark Oaten who turned up to lobby councillors as they entered the meeting, residents were told it was too late.

Planning officer Tim Green-wood warned councillors if they changed the wording of the revised structure plan it would have to go out again for public consultation, putting back the seven-year process once more.

And councillors, some admitting it was with "heavy hearts", agreed. Chairman Dudley Keep said: "Not to agree the structure plan could be suicidal as it would leave the field open for any planning application."

As councillors acknowledged, the decision was also taken in the shadow of the Crowe report, the independent study which recommended Hampshire should accept an extra 169,000 new homes up to 2016. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is due to publish his response to this report in the spring.

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