October 9th 1999: PLANS to swamp Hampshire over the next 16 years with nearly 170,000 new homes have sent shock waves across the county.

If accepted by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Hampshire could be swamped with 8,450 new homes every year up to 2016.

The figure - more than twice the number of homes in Southampton - far exceeds the level of building anticipated by planners and environmentalists, and has been dubbed a "developers' charter''.

There were growing fears today that greenfield sites across the county will be swallowed up in the bricks-and-mortar invasion, with the prospect of angry eco-protests.

The number of homes has been recommended by a government-appointed panel following a public examination into draft regional planning guidance for the South East. The decision by inspectors means rejected proposals for a major new town with more than 8,000 homes at Micheldever Station, near Winchester, would have to be reconsidered.

Only last month, following bitter negotiations, the county council and Southampton and Portsmouth city councils agreed on 42,000 new homes for Hampshire up to the year 2011, with 14,000 more in reserve if they are needed.

But the latest figure - which moves away from the predict-and-provide trend - would force the authorities to find land and sites for around 100,000 new homes during that period.

Winchester MP Mark Oaten, whose constituency is already threatened with 2,000 new homes on a greenfield site at Barton Farm, said he would be calling on Mr Prescott as a matter of urgency to reject the proposals.

"This is a most disastrous piece of news and I am absolutely appalled by this report," he added. The secretary of the Hampshire Greenfield Alliance, John Moon, said 169,000 new homes would have a disastrous effect on the county.

"A housing figure of that amount is well beyond the number of homes required for Hampshire's own needs."

Deborah Falkoner, chairman of the Winchester Landscape Conservation Alliance, said: "This is totally disastrous for Hampshire.

"It seems to contradict all government policies to rejuvenate inner cities before starting on new greenfield sites.

"I am incredulous really. I can't believe they would do something like and I am worried about pos-sible development north of Winchester.''

The chairman of Winchester City Council's planning commit-tee, Rodney Sabine, said he was both "shocked'' and "appalled.''

"It is not just Barton Farm that will be developed, but it will open up the threat to Micheldever Station again.

"I think every authority in the South East will be appalled by these housing figures.''

Adrian Collett, the leader of the county council's Liberal Democrat Group, said it would damage Hampshire beyond repair.