A GOVERNMENT planning inspector will have the final say on a highly contentious scheme to build 320 homes on farmland at Rownhams.

Commercial Estates’ outline application for Parkers Farm was submitted with borough planners in March but officers failed to make a decision within the 13-week time frame set by the Government for determining major planning applications.

A council official said this was due “outstanding issues that were not resolved”.

However, Test Valley councillors, planning bosses and residents in the village have made it crystal clear that the homes along with a 60-bed care home and a livery with stables for up to 30 horses are not wanted.

The authority’s southern area planning committee debated the scheme on Tuesday and unanimously rejected it on the grounds that the site is close to conservation areas.

These include the Solent and Southampton Water wetland sites and the Lower Test Valley site of special scientific interest.

Other reasons for refusal included lack of open space, sustainable modes of transport and loss of grade 3A farmland. The proposed development, which also includes footway and cycleway links with the village and allotments and recreation areas, is on a site east of Rownhams Lane and south of the M27.

The site is within open countryside outside the built-up area of the village.

Commercial Estates then appealed to the Government and asked the Secretary of State to look at the plans and make a decision and the company is still waiting for an answer.

Tony Seaton representing the ‘Say No to Parkers Farm’ spoke on behalf of around 100 residents at the planning meeting and said that the proposed site was “prime grade three” listed farmland and he warned that it “would take away countryside from the village” if the scheme was approved.

Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams borough councillor Nigel Anderdon said that the fact that the farmland is grade 3A rated was just one good reason for throwing out the plans.

Valley Park ward’s Andrew Beesley was worried about the effects the motorway would have on the occupants of the planned new homes.

“I can’t believe there won’t be issues with air quality as it is so close to the M27,” said Mr Beesley.

Another Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams borough ward councillor, Alison Finlay said she was surprised that planning officers hadn’t included the fact that the proposed site was in the countryside as a reason for rejecting the scheme.

“Over 300 homes on this site is unjustified. This piece of countryside is a buffer zone between Southampton city and Rownhams,” said Mrs Finlay.

TVBC has received numerous objections to the scheme.

Besides more than 100 letters from residents in the area, the borough had objections from Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council, Romsey Ramblers and Hamp