Sir.-The problem over Manydown has arisen because the council has chosen voluntarily to extend the Local Plan from 2011 to 2016.

No one knows how many houses Basingstoke will be expected to build after 2011. The council has assumed that house building will have to continue after 2011 at the same annual rate as before, but this may not be so.

For example, more houses may be allocated to brownfield sites in other districts, notably Southampton and Portsmouth, which are currently finding enormous unexpected scope for redevelopment.

Also, extrapolating current demographic trends is unreliable and the latest census, the results of which should be published soon, may show that fewer new households are being formed.

But, even if all those new houses are needed after 2011, there are better options than building on greenfields at Manydown.

Firstly, the reserve provision of 2,000 houses in the plan to 2011 is unlikely to be needed, so the sites allocated to them will be available. Then, as Cllr Heath points out, redundant offices at Basing View should be converted into flats and surplus employment land should be used for housing.

Once Manydown is allocated to housing, it will be "blighted". Who wants to build on green-fields when previously developed land may be available? It seems the council does.

-Nevil Wilson, Preston Candover.

Sir.-I was heartened to read Cllr Phil Heath's comments as reported in last Friday's Gazette. He talks a lot of sense. Basingstoke borough was required to produce a Local Plan to 2011 which included provision for a specific amount of housing. It has chosen to extend this plan beyond 2011 on the pretext that the plan, when finalised, must have a length of 10 years.

The current draft Local Plan which takes us up to 2011 shows that our predicted needs can be met without resource to any major greenfield development. Indeed it contains a reserve provision for 2,000 units (more than two years' extra supply on current predictions).

The further ahead predictions are made, the less reliable they become. There are so many variables, for example interest rates have an effect on demand.

Other Hampshire districts such as Southampton are indicating that they can absorb considerably more dwellings than their original allocation, meaning that Basingstoke's future ration may well be reduced.

The Urban Capacity Study has demonstrated there are many more brownfield sites than had previously been thought and no doubt this source will continue to grow. (A national survey showed that between 1998 and 2001, despite 21 per cent of the 1998 sites having been developed, there were still 30 per cent more such sites by 2001).

To earmark Manydown now and include it as a development allocation after 2011 is a decision based on doubtful criteria and will predestine and blight green-field land which may never be needed.

One has to ask whether the millions that stand to be made, should development take place, have influenced the borough? Would it have arrived at the same decision if it had no direct financial interest in the outcome?

-Julian Pilcher, Chairman, Campaign to Protect Rural England, North Hampshire District.

Sir.-In its Local Plan, Basingstoke council has been strongly influenced by community engagement over the past two years.

That has supported us in demanding a high proportion of affordable housing on developments, making best use of brown-field and infill sites, minimising the effect on conservation areas and retaining the identity of villages.

We are planning ahead to 2016. This is required by Government and gives us all certainty about our future. It also means we can ensure we develop communities, not just housing estates.

We will continue to change out-of-date employment sites into residential use, including a good mix of affordable homes. However, we need to build on green-fields too.

There are sites allocated to the north of Basingstoke, the west of Basingstoke (Manydown), and in the larger towns and villages such as Overton, Whitchurch and Woolton Hill.

Green fields are not released unless our monitoring shows they are needed, and the land at Manydown is specifically safe-guarded until after 2011.

We need to meet our needs for homes, jobs and facilities for the future. Our Local Plan does this, while protecting our environment and our heritage.

-Cllr Paula Baker, Cabinet member for forward planning, Basingstoke council.