CIVIC chiefs have been given the go-ahead to build hundreds of homes on a patch of Hampshire countryside.

Up to 800 homes could be built at Woodhouse Lane near Hedge End – after a decision to remove the site from a huge planning blueprint was dramatically reversed.

Tonight, Eastleigh Borough Council’s Cabinet is expected to signal its intent to include the site in a fresh version of the authority’s draft local plan, outlining development in the area over the next 16 years.

It comes after its last attempt to formulate a plan was put on hold when it became clear land-owners Hampshire County Council would refuse to allow the land off Woodhouse Lane to be covered over with 1,000 homes.

But the authority has performed a U-turn and will allow the homes to be built there. The delay, and the need to draw up fresh plans, is estimated to have cost taxpayers up to £50,000 – and now even more homes may have to be built in the Eastleigh area.

Eastleigh’s Cabinet members are this evening also expected to signal their preference to build 330 extra new homes on greenfield land north of Fair Oak and 750 homes west of Horton Heath at Chalcroft Farm.

The previous local plan suggested building a total of 9,400 homes across the borough of Eastleigh.

But since then the Government has outlined the need to increase the supply of new housing while planning inspectors have become more rigorous in their assessment of housing land figures.

Now that number has swelled to up to 10,140 homes, with 1,880 extra homes having to be built on greenfield land.

Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said: “I know my predecessor made a decision in 2012 that at that stage, we would not make it available.

“Since then we have the renewed request from Cllr House and Eastleigh, and the duty to co-operate. I am conscious that if Eastleigh does not soon meet its land availability requirements the ability of neighbouring districts to prevent undesirable development could be threatened.

“I am also aware that permission has been given at Boorley Green, so this area is going to change in character in any event. Also the number of houses Eastleigh Borough Council has to provide will not go away, so if development is not here, then where?”

If cabinet members take up on the Woodhouse Lane option tonight, a full recommendation will be prepared ahead of a council meeting on October 10.