EASTLEIGH was faced with such a major housing crisis that it needed to build hundreds of homes on greenfield land at Hedge End.

Pulling no punches, council development control chief Colin Peters said: "The reality is that we have nearly 10,000 people who need a home."

Controversial plans to build 765 homes with a new primary school, a six-hectare urban park, plus office and light industry, at Dowd's Farm took a major step forward last night.

It took nearly three and half hours of heated debate for the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee to agree to outline planning permission with various conditions.

But it could be a long time before the first brick is laid. For deputy premier John Prescott could "call in" the plan and if he wants the final say then it would have to go to a public inquiry.

If it gets the final go ahead it could take up to five years to build the massive estate.

Mr Peters admitted that the Dowd's Farm site was far from perfect and would create traffic problems.

Pointing out that there were very few sites from which to pick he said: "There is a major housing need. It is a major, major problem."

He said that the borough's worsening housing crisis had led to many people being put into bed and breakfast, some as far as 50 miles away.

Last night the council came under fierce fire from residents for this latest bricks and mortar invasion on Hedge End, which over the years has been in the development frontline.

There were 76 letters of objections to the Dowd's Farm proposals from local residents. There were fears that the existing infrastructure, including roads, doctors and dental surgeries, could not cope with the influx. It was also pointed out that Wildern School, which was the local secondary school, was already full with a waiting list.

Councillor Jane Welsh, who was also worried about congestion, urged that the proposed primary school should be built before people moved into the new homes.

Attacking the development plan Councillor Jerry Hall warned: "There will be traffic chaos."

But council leader and Hedge End councillor Keith House described the Dowd's Farm proposal as a good package which would be in the best interests of the community.