ALARM bells are ringing in Alton following the rejection of a planning application because the proposed density of development was too low.

The decision, taken recently by members of East Hampshire District Council's north planning committee, has sparked fears for the future of the town with one former councillor suggesting that Alton could be in danger of becoming "a sprawling Legoland".

The concern centres around an application to demolish Greenacre in Borovere Lane and replace it with five detached dwellings - a plan which was sent "back to the drawing board" because the site was thought to have potential to provide a greater number of houses in line with the government's new PPG3 planning guideline.

The decision has angered former district councillor Rod Eckles, who points out that the applicants, who are owner-occupiers and not speculative developers, were concerned for the future of the site and had tried hard to maintain some control over its development, rather than sell to the highest bidder.

"Rather than cram as many houses in as possible, obviously a much more lucrative proposition, they wanted to preserve something of the character of the site, with its fine trees and hedgerows, by limiting the redevelopment to five houses," said Mr Eckles.

But East Hampshire planning officers were unhappy about the proposal suggesting that, under PPG3 recommendation, 11 houses would be a more appropriate number.

"Instead of seizing the opportunity to provide Alton with additional housing on a rare 'windfall site', the council has played straight into the hands of developers who want to cover every remaining space in Alton with bricks and mortar," said Mr Eckles.

While understanding the requirement of PPG3 to seek higher density where appropriate, he believes that Alton desperately needs a better mix of property types and is acutely short of housing at both ends of the range.

"Not only low-cost but also at the higher end, where larger houses on spacious sites have been inexorably swallowed up by keyhole developments of back-to-back 'executive homes' based on the four-bed detached/postage stamp garden format," said Mr Eckles.

He believes that planning policy guidance is just that - "guidance" - and that to stick slavishly to the new density guidelines regardless of local circumstances can only be described as "planning dogma gone mad".

In fact, he says, PPG3 places a clear responsibility on planners to "provide greater choice and a better mix on the size, type and location of housing" as one of its prime objectives. "On density, the document merely seeks to avoid too much low-density development."

The Borovere Lane site, he points out, is nowhere near the town centre, the shops or station, nor does it have a bus service. Furthermore it is at the top of a steep hill next to open farmland, right on the southern edge of the town, and in a sensitive area in planning terms.

"This application was crying out for a little common sense based on local knowledge, and with a few exceptions I believe committee members have done not only the applicants but the people of Alton a huge disservice in voting for refusal, without even giving themselves the opportunity, or the applicants the courtesy, of a site visit before making their decision."

Mr Eckles is concerned that if local people cannot control the scale of development on a site such as this, then the prospects for Alton are "gloomy indeed."

"We elect our district councillors to represent our interests - and this sometimes demands just a little imagination.

"If we want planning decisions to be based simply on a rule book, with no reference to special characteristics, the site, its location, or indeed the broader needs of Alton itself, then we might as well dispense with the planning committee and have the officers decide all applications for us.

"Indeed, if applicants' hands are going to be so tied in this way, why not do away with applications as well?"