A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build 134 new homes on the outskirts of Basingstoke should be rejected, planning officers have advised.

The proposal from building firm Wates provoked an outcry from Worting residents, who feared it would quadruple the size of their village, cause further traffic problems and encourage further development.

Villagers set up a residents’ group to fight the application and 104 letters of objection were submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council about the plan.

Wates said its scheme would help the council meet housing targets and provide “much-needed” family housing.

But planners have now looked at the scheme and are advising councillors to give it the thumbs down.

A report prepared for the council’s development control committee by case officer Mike Townsend said the council contested the developer’s belief that the homes would help meet Government housing targets because the authority had allotted enough land to cover the next five years.

It added: “Notwithstanding these matters, the proposed development is unacceptable for a number of other principal issues, including impact on Worting Conservation Area, impact on the landscape, unacceptable layout, inadequate information to demonstrate appropriate access to the site, inadequate information to demonstrate accessibility to the site and unacceptable highways layout impacting on highway safety.”

Councillors will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to follow the officer’s recommendation or approve the plans.