DEVELOPERS are twisting planning rules and building “too slowly” to gobble up more Hampshire land for housing, an MP has warned.

Caroline Nokes, the Romsey and Southampton North MP, attacked the way land was released on the claim that previous planning permissions were now “undeliverable”.

The Conservative backbencher accused developers of “building deliberately slowly”, in order to be able to argue that more houses were required.

As a result, across southern Test Valley, there was now seven years' worth of supply - when the council was only required to deliver enough homes for five years.

Ms Nokes pointed to Parkers Farm in Rownhams, a greenfield site where there is an appeal for 320 houses and a care home and where a planning bid is expected for an adjacent site.

And she warned: “Were the two applications to be granted, they would effectively close the gap between the village of Rownhams and the Southampton city boundary.

“For generations, Test Valley councillors have sought to maintain gaps between settlements and enable villages to retain their own identity and sense of community, but that looks to be under very real threat.”

The MP said development of the Romsey brewery had been mooted since “the final brew was started on my 11th birthday” - which was “a very long time ago”.

And she added: “Developers are building deliberately slowly, for either strategic or commercial reasons.”

Another bid planners wanted to exclude was at Halterworth - an “important local gap between Romsey and North Baddesley” - for more than 100 homes and a leisure centre.

Ms Nokes urged ministers to adopt Test Valley council's call for local planners to be able to use “forecasted delivery rates” when considering housing rates.

But, in reply, local government minister Brandon Nokes, said they key was for town halls to quickly adopt an official “local plan”, to give themselves protection.

He said: “That approach is preferable to the endless discussions and debates that are often replicated in determining individual applications and appeals.

“Should Test Valley borough council's plan be found sound and be adopted next year, the council will be in a much stronger position to defend its decisions on general planning applications in line with that plan.”

The minister also praised the council for “giving strong leadership and recognising the importance of providing the housing necessary to suit the needs of local people”.

He said: “That the rate of construction in the local authority area is at its highest for 15 years is testament to that and to the work done there.”