A GREENFIELD site in Kempshott, Basingstoke, that has been at the centre of a long-running planning wrangle has been cleared for housing development by an inspector.

Alan Foster, the inspector holding the public inquiry into the next Local Plan for Basingstoke and Deane, has decided that the 13-hectare site at Old Kempshott Lane can be brought forward for development immediately.

An application for 290 homes on the site was dismissed on appeal by the Government in 2002 because it was decided there was enough housing land available at the time.

And in January this year, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council voted by a narrow majority against its own Cabinet and refused to allow developers to build 300 houses on the land for the time being.

The development plans were opposed by local residents' groups. However, the land is already earmarked in the current Local Plan blueprint for up to 200 homes.

In a letter to Gordon Holdcroft, the chief executive of Basingstoke council, Mr Foster said there is no compelling reason for the site not to be approved for building by developer Barratt.

He added that since the borough is well behind on its target for house-building, release of the Old Kempshott Lane land would "make a significant contribution to the supply of new homes starting in 2006".

Mr Foster noted that there is no need to wait to see if the huge Manydown housing scheme on land surrounding Old Kempshott lane is approved.

First published: Monday, April 25, 2002