THE battle lines are being drawn up over another planning battle set to erupt on the edge of Winchester.

Local people have been alerted to a developer promoting the building of 350 homes on land known as Pitt Vale off Romsey Road, close to the Winchester Village development.

Developer Drew Smith wants to build the new estate on the south-western edge of the city which has been coming under strong pressure for new housing. Villagers last year fought off a scheme for 5,000 homes in the Royaldown proposal which would have seen a new town built between Oliver's Battery and Hursley.

The Pitt Vale scheme surfaces at the same time as unconfirmed reports on social media that the nearby South Winchester Golf Club, purchased by Bloor Homes, has signed a 10-year lease to remain as a golf course.

David Killeen, a member of the Save South Winchester group which opposed Royaldown, has said: “I am very concerned that developers are once again seeking an opportunity to promote plans to build over the green fields of rural South Winchester. I urge the Liberal Cabinet to let residents know now exactly how many houses Drew Smith intends to build and where they will go as part of their local plan for Winchester and partnership deal with the South Hampshire authorities.

"I understand housing is needed but in the right place with a brownfield-first policy and proper protection for our agricultural land.”

The issue is set to be a factor in the city council elections in May with the Conservatives accusing the Lib Dem-controlled council of promoting development. The council has drawn up a list of potential schemes in a document called the Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA). The council points out that the wishlist is a statutory requirement which all councils must compile.

Last week the chairman of the Dever Society wrote to the Chronicle to point out that it was misleading for the Conservatives to suggest in political literature that the district faced having to find room for 53,000 new homes by 2039. That figure is the total of the number of homes the developers want to build. Winchester will have to find room for only 14,000 of which 11,300 are already earmarked.

Stephen Clark, head of planning at Drew Smith, said: "Winchester City Council is currently preparing a new local plan and, as part of this process, asked for land that was available for development to be submitted.

"In response, Drew Smith provided details of the land at ‘Pitt Vale’ Romsey Road. The council has identified the site as HU03 in the published SHELAA which includes an indicative site capacity for 318 homes. The next stage is for the council to consider all the sites put forward and to identify their preferred options for development. There will then be a further period of public consultation during which the council will invite comments. Drew Smith is committed to positive engagement through this process with the parish council and local community as well as Winchester City Council as we promote this site through the Local Plan.”

On South Winchester Golf Club, the management did not respond to a request for comment and neither have Bloor Homes.

Former city councillor and mayor Eleanor Bell, on Nextdoor website, said: "It's good news for 10 years. Bloor Homes have managed to buy the land without planning permission, i.e. cheaper than with. It is essential the land is NOT included in the next Local Plan allocations."