ONE of Hampshire’s largest and most controversial planning schemes for years could be given the go-ahead today.

Councillors in Winchester will be asked to back a 20-year strategy that identifies Barton Farm, on the city’s northern edge, as suitable for 2,000 homes.

However, two members of the ruling Conservative group will speak against the move.

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Cllr Richard Worrall, who represents Weeke, said earlier this year that he would not vote for developing the greenfield site.

He said: “I’m intending to speak against the inclusion of Barton Farm as a preferred option site for the development of 2,000 homes and I’m hoping to convince fellow councillors to go along with my view.”

His party colleague, Cllr Eileen Berry, who represents the same ward, is also unhappy with the plan. She said that it would not provide enough affordable housing.

The opposition Liberal Democrats want to amend the strategy to give Barton Farm more protection.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, member for Harestock and Littleton, said: “If the city council agrees that it wants to build on Barton Farm without altering the policy being put forward, it will make an immediate planning application likely to be successful.”

Cllr George Beckett, who leads the authority, branded the Lib Dem plan “flawed”.

He said: “I’ll be interested to see where they propose to put the homes instead.”

Developer Cala Homes is holding workshops in Winchester tomorrow and on Saturday to show off its latest plans for the site.

The first event is scheduled less than 24 hours after the city council is due to decide Barton Farm’s fate.