Fareham Borough Council to try and push ahead with 6,000 home Welborne plan despite criticism

Hundreds of protestors campaigned against the Welborne Plan at a public inquiry into the project, which would see thousands of houses, four schools and 100,000 square metres of shop built near Fareham.

Critics say the scheme would increase the risk of flooding in the area, as well as producing more pollution and putting strain on infrastructure.

Inspector David Hogger oversaw a public inquiry last year discussing the project and following these hearings he raised 23 shortcomings in plans for the new community and asked Fareham Borough Council to address these issues.

Fareham Borough Council leader Seán Woodward told the Daily Echo that despite Mr Hogger's concerns he was still optimistic that the project would go ahead.

The council has now published main modifications to the plans and these will be discussed at a full meeting on Wednesday.

A Fareham Council report says: “The inspector's preliminary findings letter indicates a number of points relating to soundness which the council should address through the agreement of main modifications.

“These all concern issues where the inspector has already indicated to officers at the examination hearing that a change to the plan was required.

“Therefore in each case a response to the required change has already been drafted by officers at the inspector's request and formally consulted upon his behalf.”

The plans include 100,000 square metres of shops, a secondary school, and three primary schools and hundreds of campaigners turned up to protest against them when the inquiry opened.

Modifications that the council has suggested include emphasising that the new development should be self contained, ensuring that noise, light and sound pollution are adequately considered, and including an assessment of how new shops will affect the area.

The plans will be discussed at the meeting at Fareham Civic Offices at 6pm on Wednesday.