A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build homes has the danger of creating a “modern ghetto”, according to an opponent.

Botley Parish Council chairman Colin Mercer criticised plans for 106 homes in Botley which will be decided by a public inquiry, describing them as worse than the 1,400 homes at nearby Boorley Green that prompted a year-long battle in the High Court.

He said he feared the plans would isolate residents there with one road in, no facilities or sense of community spirit, exacerbate problems caused by the other major development and could open the door to further development in the area.

Developers want to knock down three houses and develop grazing land east of Sovereign Drive with a new access, new roads, public open space, landscaping and drainage works.

But this prompted 207 objections and a 333 signature petition.

Bewley Homes has appealed Eastleigh Borough Council’s refusal last July and now the two will go head to head at the inquiry at Fleming Park Leisure Centre starting today at 10am.

Cllr Mercer said the plans would build in the gap that separates Botley centre from western Botley.

“This is making it worse, it’s adding to the problems already created by 1,400 homes,” he said. “All the residents are upset about it.

“Although I don’t like Boorley Green at least it is a concept. This is just like the worst suburbs of London and big cities, just a sprawl of houses - there’s no infrastructure. It’s the modern equivalent of a ghetto.”

Plans approved for 1,400 homes at nearby Boorley Green saw people walk the streets in protest and a fight to get the decision overturned which was eventually thrown out at judicial review.

Another application for 680 homes near Boorley Green was turned down by borough councillors last month.

Sue Grinham, chairman of Botley Parish Action Group, which led the Boorley Green campaign, said the scheme would close the gap between communities and was not walking distance from the village centre so would increase transport and pollution.

She said that the parish council and BPAG had always supported development closer to the village centre of between 300 to 500 homes but this had been “ignored”.

“People want housing in the right place, this is not in the right place or where we as a community have proposed,” she said.

Andrew Morris, land director at Bewley Homes, said it would be inappropriate for Bewley Homes to comment in advance of the public inquiry, but added that despite the homes at Boorley Green there was a shortage of housing in Eastleigh borough and that 40 per cent of homes proposed would be affordable.