Campaigning residents fighting development in their community have been boosted after Basingstoke council officers recommended the scheme be rejected.
An application for more than 130 homes on Worting Farm has been put forward and will go before the council’s Development Control Committee on May 12.
The site has not been included in the council’s five-year plan for development and as such residents believe houses should not be built on it. To combat the scheme, they formed the Worting Area Residents Association to stop developer Wates from being given planning permission.
Robert Taylor, fighting for the Buckskin ward at next month’s borough elections, told the Observer at his delight.
“I rejoice in this decision of the officers, it is round one to the residents but I am aware Wates are looking to come from a different angle. The council has looked at this very professionally and in great detail and decided that is not the way forward but the threat remains – there is a great deal of money to be had by putting 134 homes on Worting Farm.”
Read Thursday's Observer for the full report
