January 25th 2001: HAMPSHIRE is today set for its biggest environmental battle since the protest over the M3 extension at Twyford Down, nearly a decade ago.

The controversial county Structure Plan, which opens the floodgates for the building of thousands of new homes on Hamp-shire's green fields, has finally been adopted by the county council - amid a storm of protest.

A blueprint for the next 11 years, the plan paves the way for up to 56,000 new homes to be built across the county in the coming decade.

Some 42,000 of these have already been allocated and accepted by local authorities.

But included in the plan are reserve proposals for an additional 14,000 homes to be built across the county if needed.

Development on the reserve list includes 2,000 homes for the prime green fields of Barton Farm, in north Winchester.

Also included are 2,000 extra for Basingstoke, 1,000 for an area west of Waterlooville, 2,500 for the Eastleigh area, 1,000 for the southern Test Valley and 500 for the New Forest.

Southampton is set to agree its separate Structure Plan today. It is required to accept 7,330 new homes within its boundaries - with a number achieved through inner city regeneration.

But even as the Hampshire decision was made by the county council yesterday, environmental protesters warned: "We are down but not out."

They have vowed to take legal advice on challenging the decision within the next four weeks.

Ted Grant, director of Hampshire's council for the protection of rural England, said: "I hop