IT IS described as the 'eyesore' of the historic market town.

Seven months after civic chiefs secured funding to ramp up plans to build on the derelict former brewery site, they have been given a second major boost.

Test Valley Borough Council has come under mounting pressure from residents and community leaders to deal with the brownfield site which has been left empty since 1988.

Back in 2006, Stanborough Developments promised to develop the site after buying it, with plans for 211 homes on the site.

Despite an appeal lodged by the applicants that the plan currently agreed is no longer viable, bosses at the council say a new £14,000 boost will help them push forward with development on the site.

Only 13 houses have been built to date.

Planning portfolio holder, cllr Nick Adams-King said: "I continue to be frustrated by the lack of development on this site.

"We are exploring every avenue to try to resolve the matter. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that the remaining homes are built.

"The developer recently appealed to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government regarding the council's decision to refuse his application to amend the type of affordable housing previously agreed for the site.

"The claim is that the requirement to provide affordable housing makes the site unviable. We are absolutely determined to defend this appeal and will robustly put our case to the planning inspector."

The authority received £14,000 in October last year from the Local Government Association's housing advisors programme. The new funds, which match those of last year, come from the same programme, and is designed to support the council investigate ways to accelerate development on the site through commissioning specialists.

Romsey councillor Mark Cooper said to have the seven-acre site blighting the town is a disgrace.

He added: "Its been in this state for 30 years now. The landowner seems unable or unwilling to develop it. There are a number of other developers, nationwide, who sit on permission land without developing it, simply waiting for land values to rise even further. It is an appalling situation."

Borough councillor Cooper also said that the funding will look at whether the council could purchase the land through a compulsory purchase order, but it "remained a last resort".

MP for Romsey and Southampton, Caroline Nokes, said: "Like cllr Adams-King, I remain enormously frustrated by the glacial speed of progress on the Romsey Brewery site. I meet with constituents every week who tell me how difficult it is for them to buy a house in Romsey, so I know how disappointed they will be by the developer’s appeal against the requirement for affordable housing on the site.

"As ever, I am committed to helping however I can and I look forward to seeing what comes from this investment in the future."