A MAJOR plan to develop land along a main route in Basingstoke is to be considered by the borough's Cabinet.

A report to next week's Cabinet meeting says the nine-acre council-owned site along Churchill Way West is suitable for 300 homes and other "mixed use" developments.

The report, from the head of property services at the council, says vehicle access to the site could be via a traffic light-controlled T-junction and that some of the existing allotments may have to be relocated closer to the railway line that borders the area.

The paper also raises the possibility of a longer-term relocation of more allotments so further development of a "new neighbourhood" can run along Churchill Way West.

However, it warns that such measures are subject to a lengthy legal process, which may not be successful.

The nine-acre site is allocated for development in the Local Plan blueprint to 2011 and beyond, and part of it is former allotment land, which was vacated in 1990.

The whole scheme, the report stresses, is backed by the leader of the council, Cllr Rob Donnelly, and the deputy leader, Cllr Brian Gurden.

The plan is just one part of the council's strategy for maximising use of its own land-holdings.

This includes the town centre car parks, which will be the subject of a separate report on the options for building on them. This will be presented in the autumn.

More immediately, the latest report says other areas being considered for development include a triangle of land at Gresley Road, where discussions are taking place with a "possible occupier".

It also says land at Basing View could be released soon, as part of the longer-term plan to revive the area, and states a triangle of land on Aldermaston Road could be put on the market for development in the spring of next year.

However, the report says Churchill Way West is the first site on which detailed work should begin.

The report asks the Cabinet to:

approve spending £70,000 on pre-paratory studies for the Churchill Way West site and to draw up "concept statements" for the development of the car parks

begin discussions with the allotment societies and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about relocating the allotments.

The report also says the site can be put on the market before planning permission is obtained and suggests tenders from developers may be sought early next year.

Some public consultation on the plans has already occurred, but more will be arranged - particularly with allotment holders and the Brookvale Residents' Association.