THOUSANDS of homes will have to be built on fields and green spaces to reach the Government's latest housing target for Basingstoke and Deane.

About 7,500 extra homes would have to be built on local sites and 7,300 on land already earmarked for development if Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is to meet the Government's stated target that 945 properties a year should be provided up to 2026, a council document has revealed.

Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, recommended the 945 figure in July in her response to the South East Plan - the blueprint for development in the region - even though the borough council thought it could only accommodate 740 homes a year.

Now the council and its consultants, Baker Associates, have identified 22 greenfield sites that could potentially meet the shortfall. The largest sites suggested include:

  • Manydown Farm, on Basingstoke's western fringe - 4,400 homes by 2026
  • Lodge Farm, east of Chineham - 2,000 homes
  • Land west of the A30 south of Kempshott - 1,200 homes
  • Basingstoke Golf Club - 1,200 homes.
  • Sites identified in the draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) were suggested last year by landowners, developers, registered social landlords and agents before they were assessed by the council and its consultants.

The assessment points to most of the development needed to meet the Government target taking place in Basingstoke, but also identifies Tadley, Whitchurch and Overton as being capable of taking new housing development.

The assessment comes to no firm conclusion about whether Bramley and Kingsclere are suitable for new housing development, but rules out large-scale development in many of the villages in the area, including Oakley, Old Basing, Cliddesden and Sherborne St John.

A consultation on the housing assessment was launched on Friday by the borough, and will run until October 31. Sites that are finally deemed suitable for development will be put forward for inclusion in the Local Development Framework (LDF) - the borough's own blueprint for development.

In a statement, Councillor Horace Mitchell, Cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: "It's important to note that the presence of a site in this draft assessment is not a recommendation that a particular site should be developed. It is an invitation to residents and others to express their views as to a site's suitability or otherwise.

"This is a vital first step in deciding where housing should be built to meet the needs of the borough in future. Residents need to get involved, have their say and help us to assess which locations should go forward as proposed housing sites in the Local Development Framework."

Labour quickly seized on the SHLAA list of sites as "evidence" that the Conservative-led administration wants to cram housing into the urban areas of Basingstoke.

In a statement, Labour group leader Cllr Laura James said: "These plans, if realised, would see the town dumped on, and our green and open spaces concreted over. There is no strategic thought to this. It reads like a lottery, so crammed development is likely coming to a green space near you.

"We want to see the Tories rule out town cramming by ruling out such sites as building on Central Car Park, or rule out building on our green spaces throughout the town.

"We want residents in Basingstoke to respond to this document so that the voices of the parishes and rural Tories are not the only ones heard."

The assessment is just one part of the LDF and other studies are looking at issues such as employment, leisure and infrastructure.

Copies of the assessment and response forms can be found in libraries, at the Civic Offices or at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planning/ldf/shlaa