WORK is to start on developing another of Eastleigh's major industrial sites early in the new year.

Today, for the first time, the Daily Echo can unveil an artist's impression of what homes on Sir Joseph Causton's former printing works will look like.

Planners backed the design of the 189 homes earmarked for the prime site off Brookwood Avenue this week.

Demolition is well advanced and Linden Homes' director for design and development Michael O'Brien said building work was pencilled in for January if possible.

A special joint committee set up by Eastleigh council to oversee regeneration applications in the town centre gave the go-ahead to a mix of houses, flats and apartments up to four storeys high - with 30 per cent being designated as social/affordable housing.

The development will also feature 278 parking spaces and a link road going through to any potential redevelopment of the nearby British Bakeries site.

Pointing to the "remarkable" fact that there had been no objections to the scheme, council leader Keith House said: "It demonstrates that it is possible to have high quality, high density schemes developed in and around our town centre which meet with the support of the community. I like the scheme. It is imaginative and makes best use of the available land in terms of providing homes right in the centre of Eastleigh town and gives us a marker for other schemes for other sites as we move forward."

He added: "It's important that we have got 30 per cent of affordable homes spread across the site in small clusters. They will be a mixture of homes for rent or shared ownership.

"I am very keen that Linden Homes get on and build these homes and get Eastleigh people living in them."

Councillor Bill Luffman said he did not think the public were aware of how dense the development would be and described the recreation space provided as "about as meagre as you could get."

Councillor Peter Luffman said the site would probably generate about 1,000 vehicle movements a day and he added: "This council is going to have to seriously consider how Eastleigh town centre is going to absorb the amount of cars from the Pirelli General site, this site and other local sites that have been identified in the local plan."

But Cllr House said he believed there would be a lower level of car use given the site's location so close to the heart of town.

However, he added: "The issue about how traffic is managed around the centre of Eastleigh is a good one. It is an important issue and we have got to get it right."

Councillors heard that the developers would be making a £156,000 contribution to boost recreation and leisure facilities at Leigh Road and Fleming Park and for the acquisition of off-site open space.

Other contributions included £178,000 for transportation, £172,000 for social and recreational facilities and £29,000 to education.