PLANS for a massive three-stage expansion of Ludgershall could have moved a step closer following revisions to the pre-deposit Wiltshire structure plan.

A large number of objections to the plan came from the Tidworth and Ludg-ershall areas after the two communities were not included in a list of places identified for smaller scale expansion in the years up to 2016.

Now the list itself has been scrapped and district councils given greater flexibility to say where new housing can best meet local needs.

"We are quite buoyed by the strategy," said Nigel Whitehead of consultants WPB, who floated the Ludgershall expansion idea in March.

"It gives a lot more authority to the local authority to take on the role of identifying where the smaller scale growth should take place."

Two other obstacles in the path of the Ludgershall plan are the low level of additional housing earmarked in Kennet and the need for sustainability.

Mr Whitehead belie-ves that the provision of only 5,250 homes in the Kennet area between 1996 and 2016 could well become an issue at the structure plan's examination in public, possibly early next year.

In its response to public comments Wiltshire County Council says it recognises the issue of civilian and military balance in Tidworth and Ludgershall but it says it would require substantial levels of housing development to address the matter.

With the limited level of employment opportunities the feasibility of massive development is unrealistic.

However, Mr White-head believes the development of the Castl-edown Business Park, or Site 23, as it is commonly known, will provide as many as 1,000 jobs and overcome the lack of local employment opportunities.