THE highly controversial process of deciding where to build thousands of new homes in Basingstoke and Deane is set to continue.

The Coalition’s Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has said the former Labour Government’s housing targets are to be abolished.

But the Conservative-led Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is heeding advice from council officials to press ahead with creating a hit list for potential housing sites in the borough.

This has drawn strong criticism from conservationists and opposition councillors who want the hit list scrapped.

Nikki Linihan, head of planning and transport, told the borough’s planning and overview scrutiny committee that a decision to halt the process could only be made when more was known about Government intentions.

She said: “We should continue with the process as it goes forward, but as soon as more information comes out we can review that.”

She said councillors should carry on with its housing plan to avoid developers challenging planning decisions.

Councillor Rob Golding, Cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: “It is my judgement that the safest and wisest course for this council is to keep working on things that we need to do.”

He said while the target of 945 new homes built annually over 20 years was dead, the council still needed to plan for developments.

But opposition councillors and anti-development campaigners, who had at least 100 supporters gathered in the public gallery, were calling for an immediate halt to the process which is known as the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

Clive Pinder, campaign manager for Save Our Loddon Valley (SOLVE), said: “We are not sure who’s running this council, whether it is officers or elected representatives.”

Labour group leader Cllr Laura James told the Tories: “You are in a position of power nationally and locally, and you can’t do as you wish? You have said you don’t like it (the SHLAA) and that it is not what you want – so do something about it.”

The SHLAA document is due to be completed by August 13, with public consultation and workshops being held to decide where houses are to be built.

But Cllr James said halting the process now would save public money.

Norden ward Labour councillor Paul Harvey said South Oxfordshire District Council had stopped its process.

“I want it scrapped until we know what is going to happen,” he said.