A DEBATE which will help shape the future of Hampshire and the whole of the south-east over the next two decades begins today.

Four months of public hearings will begin examining the South East Regional Assembly's South East Plan, which sets targets for homes, the economy and environmental protection in the region until 2026.

About 120,000 new homes will be built in Hampshire alone over the next 20 years if the plan is finally adopted by the government in February 2008.

Hearings led by the panel of three independent planning inspectors will listen to views on the plan's contents from organisations in the region before making recommendations to government about any changes they think may be needed.

Tuesday's hearing, in Woking, will see Friends of the Earth South East publicly challenge the region's leaders to make tackling climate change their top priority.

The pressure group supports the plan's targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions but warns that these will be undermined by the sheer scale of development pressure also contained in the plan.

Friends of the Earth South East's campaigns co-ordinator Brenda Pollack said: "Unless it is changed, the South East Plan will lead to a huge increase in the region's contribution to dangerous climate change, with large and rapid increases in housing, car use and air travel.

"The inspectors running the public hearings will need to make some hard decisions after hearing the evidence, to ensure we are not set on a path which seeks growth at any cost.

"The region is being forced by the government to take damaging demands for more housing and other development.

"It is hard to see how this can be done without harming the region and adding to climate change."