BOROVERE Farm, off the Selborne Road, could find itself snapped up for development if a controversial proposal by Alton Town Council is taken on board by district planners.

Local councillors intend to upset the apple cart by suggesting a radical re-think on the reserve sites proposed for Alton within the second draft of East Hampshire District CouncilÕs Local Plan (second review).

Not yet part of the equation, around eight hectares at Borovere Farm could, councillors believe, provide a sustainable mixed development of some 230 houses, with easy access to the A31, which would have minimal impact on existing residents. The proposal would include development of the Chawton triangle to accommodate seven business units.

Currently out to consultation, the new Local Plan, which will eventually guide development of the district until 2011, shows Alton as taking the brunt of East HampshireÕs new housing development allocation.

The approved Hampshire County Structure Plan allocates a baseline figure of 5,500 dwellings to be built in East Hampshire during the plan period (1996 to 2011), plus a further 1,500 on reserve sites, making a total requirement of 7,000.

Of this, 4,875 is made up of houses already built, by outstanding permissions and allocations, by the small site allowance and by unidentified windfall sites. This leaves 625 dwellings to be found by developing larger baseline sites, mainly on previously developed land.

Alton has two baseline sites - the first a five hectare plot for a further 150 houses on the former Lord Mayor Treloar site, and the second a 0.5 hectare site for 15 dwellings at The Depot, London Road, Holybourne.

Under government guidelines, the emphasis is now on Òplan, monitor and manageÓ, leading to a system of reserve site allocation to be developed as and when needed.

Alton has two reserve sites - the first for 150 houses on 4.9 hectares to the rear of Chandos Lodge, Anstey Road - controversial in that it would serve to close the strategic gap between Alton and Holybourne; the second a four hectare site at Cadnams Farm, Whitedown Lane, which is allocated for 135 houses, bringing with it concerns about development on rising ground on the edge of the town.

Alton town councillors are strongly opposed to both sites.

Envisaged as Òa carbuncleÓ on the north-western horizon of Alton, in arguing against inclusion of Cadnams Farm it is ATCÕs opinion that it would represent an Òunsustainable greenfield siteÓ, prone to flooding, which lies outside the natural settlement boundary of the town.

The great fear for the Anstey Road site is over access which councillors believe would serve to increase traffic problems at the north-eastern end of the town. Furthermore the site is not intended for mixed development, as advocated in government advice and would lead to a diminution of the strategic gap with Holybourne, leading to pressure for development on land adjacent to the Grange Hotel.

Using local knowledge, Alton councillors believe they have come up with a better site in Borovere Farm which could provide enough land to accommodate the entire reserve site allocation for the town together with employment opportunities.

It is felt such a development could lead to significant local highway improvements, while tidying up the southern approach to the town.

It would also overcome concerns over lack of quality business and industrial land allocation for Alton within the new plan. Councillors are concerned that Alton has been left with the existing sewage site and land at the Treloar Hospital site which, it is felt, could hit problems on an environmental level because of its close proximity with Chawton Park Wood.

The major bonus, however, would be the good mix of housing already being suggested by a Fareham-based developer, which would include low-cost commercial sector properties. The type and size would be agreed with councillors in a bid to meet the townÕs housing need.

Partially brownfield in nature, the Borovere site has the added advantage, it is believed, of falling within a one kilometre radius of Alton town centre which would encourage people to walk to the shops. Both Cadnams Farm and Anstey Road fall outside the radius.

The new draft Local Plan can be seen at the EHDC Information Office in Cross and Pillory Lane, Alton. Exhibitions have already begun with the remainder taking place from 3 to 8-30 pm at the following venues:

Friday, March 1 - Four Marks Village Hall

Monday, March 4 - Bentley Memorial Hall

Any comment on the changes to the plan should be sent to EHDC by Thursday, March 14.