Winchester city planners have given the green light for homelessness charity, Emmaus Hampshire, to build a "live/work" community on the outskirts of Winchester.

The community development will offer, at any one time, 22 previously homeless and socially excluded people a home, a job, a small income and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "Last year the county council agreed to offer Emmaus a 125-year lease on the land it needed for this exciting project.

"I am pleased that we are now one step closer to bringing to life this innovative solution to homelessness in the county."

The Emmaus Community will be built on land next to the old county council highways depot at Bar End which already houses the household waste recycling centre.

The main source of community revenue will be through the recycling, refurbishment and sale of second-hand goods.

There are obvious synergies with the neighbouring recycling centre, and the Emmaus Community will make a significant and innovative contribution to the management of waste and redundant materials in the local community and beyond.

Alison Thompson, chair of Emmaus Hampshire, said: "This is truly a 'people and planet' project. The new development will provide the opportunity for people to regain their dignity and self worth and enable them to give something back to society.

The containment of the site by mature landscape and the presence of an existing wildlife balancing pond offer anopportunity to create a bio-diverse development.

It is hoped that the construction of the new Emmaus Community will begin early in 2008 so that its doors can open in early 2009.

The target for this special social enterprise project in Hampshire is £3million -- the bulk of which will need to be raised in the next two-year period.

To find out more about Emmaus Hampshire and the ways in which you can offer support for the project, please visit www.emmaus hampshire.org.uk or telephone Avril Robinson, project director, on 01962 828817.