CITY planners have delayed a decision on the biggest planning applications in Winchester's history saying they need more information about the scheme.

Developer CALA Homes wants to build 2,000 homes on land at Barton Farm, north of the city.

Hundreds of people packed a meeting of Winchester's planning development control committee at the Guildhall to hear councillors discuss the scheme.

Officers recommended that a decision on the scheme should not be made until August.

They want to see more information including details about the visual impact of the project, ecological and air quality factors, transport issues and the amount of affordable housing on the site.

The plans for the site which lies east of Andover Road and borders the London- Southampton railway line include a community centre, supermarket and primary school for up to 600 pupils.

Significant changes would need to be made to existing roads to provide three access points to the development.

The scheme has attracted huge opposition and the council said it had received 444 objections to the CALA Homes plan and only seven letters of support.

Gavin Blackman, chairman of the Save Barton Farm Group, which claims to represent the views of 5,000 people, said the massive development would lead to unacceptable congestion on roads leading into the city and worsen pollution.

"We feel strongly that the problems of Barton Farm will strike a fatal blow to the city," he added.

Alex Trimmer, also of the Save Barton Farm group, warned the area had been prone to flooding for many years and the development should not be allowed for that reason alone.

He said Andover Road had been under water as recently as March.

Michael Emett, representing CALA Homes, said the development would deliver the numbers of new houses that the city desperately needed.

"It will provide a new neighbourhood, that will be largely self-sufficient rather than burdening the existing infrastructure," he said.

During debate, Ian Tait, member for St Michael, said part of the city at least would welcome the development of Barton Farm if it meant the number of affordable homes would be increased.