A public inquiry will take place over controversial plans to build more than 200 homes in a Hampshire community.

Developers want to build a combination of 129 houses and 77 flats on land off Peters Road in Locks Heath.

But Fareham borough councillors went against the advice of their planning officers to reject the scheme earlier this year.

They claimed that the designs were out of keeping with the area, and had concerns over affordable homes provision, access to the site, travel plans and open space areas.

Now developers Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties Ltd and Bovis Homes Ltd have lodged an appeal – and a date will be set for a Government-appointed inspector to hold an inquiry.

The 6.3-hectare site includes a number of derelict glass houses and abandoned outbuildings.

It is the latest chapter in the long-running attempt to build homes on the land.

A similar proposal for 215 homes on the site was rejected last year amid concerns over parking and the layout of the proposed site.

A separate planning bid has recently been approved to build 49 homes on another parcel of the land.

It is all part of wider moves to build more than 300 homes on a large section of land off Peters Road – proposals that were given the green light in 2008.

That decision came five years after a similar scheme was thrown out by Fareham planning bosses amid fierce protests from neighbouring residents – a stance later backed by a Government planning inspector.

Anyone wishing to make comments ahead of the latest public inquiry can write to 3/26 Hawk Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN.