A MAJOR housebuilding scheme on the edge of Winchester has been refused.

The plans for up to 350 homes built by Linden Homes at Vale Farm off Romsey Road were met with objections and concerns by councillors on the planning committee at Winchester City Council.

The scheme includes up to 140 affordable homes, an elderly care village, a mixed use local centre, a commercial centre and improvements to existing bridleways and new cycle links, open spaces, play areas and drainage works.

The original plan included a roundabout from Romsey Road which raised concerns about pedestrian safety from Hampshire County Council highways department, the amended proposal on the table shows there will be a signalised entrance from the road into the site, which will include a safe crossing route for pedestrians.

Planners say the scheme should be refused as it does not fit into local plan policies.

They say it the proposed housing is not the type which is “acceptable” in the countryside.

Another reason is that the council can show they have an ‘adequate’ supply of housing land, meaning there is no justification for them to release this site for housing.

Among those objecting to the plans officially is the head of landscape who said the development would be “harmful” to the setting of the city and rural character of the A3090 and the fields between Pitt and the edge of Winchester.

Planning agent for Lindon Homes Mike Newton said the plan would create 525 construction jobs and is key for the council to provide housing supply in the area.

He said the development will help deliver care homes and there will be a financial contribution for sports facilities in thenWinchester area and a buffer zone will help to alleviate the visual impact.

The meeting heard from objector David Barnes who spoke on behalf of Pitt Village Residents Association, he said:"We are threatened by a developer chancing his luck and this really should not be tolerated."

Vice chairman of Hursley Parish Council Joe Winchester said the scheme would be detrimental to traffic in the area, which is already strained and said the greenfield site should not be released.

Ward councillors Eleanor Bell and Brian Laming also expressed their objections to the plan.

Cllr Bell said the development would be built on a precious rural gap between the village of Pitt and Winchester, and would be unacceptable, she also spoke about traffic problems caused by the development and there are also flooding problems and summed up that the scheme is against the Local Plan Part 1.

There were 468 objections by residents opposing the plan and 98 letters of support from people who feel that Winchester needs more housing and affordable housing, and praised the facilities with the houses.

Councillor Eileen Berry said:"I have never known anything so together objectionably, that gives me heart in my own feeling

Councillor Ian Tait supported the scheme, he said:"The scheme itself presented to us other than issued with landscape is a good scheme and Lindon Homes have delivered good schemes across this district."