A SCHEME to build up to 30 homes at Belbins near Romsey has been given the green light by Test Valley councillors if the developers get a move on.

Bargate Homes’ proposals for the site at “Baroona” off Cupernham Lane, includes 12 affordable dwellings.

However, the borough’s southern area committee did insist that the developer should be asked to start building work within one year in a bid to meet a shortfall in housing supplies.

Valley Park member Alan Dowden said: “Far too often a developer is given planning permission and nothing happens. A developer just goes off and digs the footings and no houses are built. We’ve got to get to grip with this and do something about it.”

Councillors Celia Dowden and Nigel Anderdon also raised this issue.

The borough’s head of planning, Paul Jackson warned the one year time limit might be considered unreasonable.

However, the applicant’s agent Richard Osborn confirmed at the meeting that Bargate was keen to get the proposed development underway very quickly.

Mr Osborn told the committee that Bargate had a good house-building track record and he was confident that timescales would be met.

Romsey Extra ward’s Ian Hibberd said he supported the plans and welcomed the proposed new footpath along lengths of Cupernham Lane where there is currently no pavement.

But his ward colleague Alison Johnston completely disagreed with him.

Mrs Johnston said: “I do feel uncomfortable with this application because the site is within the countryside and it is a cumulative creep of development along Cupernham Lane.”

Howver, Romsey Tadburn ward’s Mark Cooper said: “This is exactly the sort of schemes Romsey needs. Over the years development on small sites have been absorbed into the town and it has worked well. The fact that 12 affordable homes are attached to the development is good news too.”

Romsey’s Clive Collier asked if a cycle lane could be included in the footway project along Cupernham Lane, but the borough’s highway officer Ray Alborough ruled it out because there was not a wide enough roadside verge to include a cycle path.

Both Romsey Town Council and Romsey Extra Parish Council supporte Bargate Homes scheme, which is close to the controversial Wren’s Corner site where 16 homes are proposed and the developer removed scrub, sparking a row over the loss of habitat for Romsey’s last remaining breeding nightingales.