THE opening salvos have been fired in the controversial battle over whether to build 2,000 homes on a piece of Hamsphire countryside.

Campaigners, developers and planners argued over the 2,000-home development proposed for the Barton Farm site on the northern edge of Winchester.

A forum, before an 80-strong audience, was staged yesterday at the public inquiry into the Winchester local plan being held at the city's Guildhall.

Barton Farm is earmarked as a reserve major development area that would be pressed into service if there was compelling justification.

CALA Homes has applied for planning permission and appealed because the city council did not decide the proposal in time. A public inquiry will be held next year.

Gavin Blackman, chairman of the Save Barton Farm Group, said: "It beggars belief that we are talking about development at Barton Farm. Nobody wants it.

"The site is unsustainable. It does not meet the needs of Winchester. Protecting this environment is more important than housing people, even key workers."

He argued that the land gave a sense of place to England's ancient capital.

City council planner Nigel Green, defended the way the council had pinpointed the site.

He rejected the argument that redundant military sites would soon be available, saying there was indecision over the future of Ministry of Defence bases at Sir John Moore Barracks (SJMB) and Worthy Down, with an announcement due next April at the earliest.

Jim Sharp, director of RPS Consultants, speaking for CALA, said about 800, or 40 per cent, of the proposed homes would be affordable housing for people on the city council waiting list.

Mr Sharp said Barton Farm was earmarked because there were insufficient brownfield sites in Winchester.

Tim Fell, a member of the action group, said: "Winchester's cultural landscape is of world-class importance. To allow it to be damaged would be vandalism."

Gareth Capner spoke for Eagle Star, which still harbours ambitions to develop a new town at Micheldever Station. He said earmarking Barton farm for development was premature.

Alan Weeks, chairman of Winchester City Residents' Association, said: "The impact of a major housing scheme would be a disaster for the character and ambience of a historic city."