Fury as plans for £308m eco-housing project with 6,000 homes is given green light despite backlash from locals over 'concrete jungle' that will destroy picturesque countryside

Controversial plans to build a £308million 'concrete jungle' in the countryside have been given the green light after funding was secured to build 6,000 new homes.

Despite facing criticism from concerned locals , a council said it is 'delighted' to announce it has obtained full funding to build all the homes it was hoping to.

As part of the proposals, a new town called 'Welborne Garden Village' will be built on 1,000 acres of open land in Hampshire.

The project has been dubbed 'Hellborne' by angry locals who accuse developers of 'destroying' the green space on a stretch of land between Fareham and Knowle.

Funding had been secured to build 1,160 homes, but Fareham Borough Council has now declared it is 'all systems go' after it secured funding to build all 6,000 homes.

The Welborne development - described as an 'English Garden Village' - has been in talks now for more than 17 years and promises to create thousands of 'beautiful homes'.

It is said that the major development will essentially create a new town between Southampton and Portsmouth.

The multi-million pound scheme has been headed by 60 year old Mark Thistlethwayte - who is chairman of Buckland Development, the master developer behind Welborne Garden Village.

Mr Thistlethwayte's 'vision' is said to focus on 'good architecture' and 'thoughtful landscaping' in the hopes 'to build a new town that will look as good in 50 or 100 years' time as it does the day it is first built'.

It will feature eco-friendly homes, powered by a solar farm and a cutting edge underground heating network that uses heat pumps and taps into a nearby reservoir.

Residents of Knowle and Wickham say the development has led to the demolition of trees and greenery in their area, started to create traffic problems and has left the GP fearful over a high patient population.

Now, a spokesperson for Fareham Borough Council said the full funding to deliver critical infrastructure is now in place, meaning all 6,000 homes will be built.

They said that if this had not been done, Welborne would only have been able to build just over 1,000 houses.

The council said: 'Fareham Borough Council is delighted to confirm that it's 'all systems go' for Welborne Garden Village, following confirmation that funding to deliver critical infrastructure is now in place.

'The recent announcement confirming the M27 Junction 10 improvements means all 6,000 new homes at Welborne can be built.'

Speaking on the update, Cllr Simon Martin, Leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: 'This is terrific news for the Borough.

'Fareham Borough Council is set housing targets by Government, so it is really important for us to deliver the number of homes set out in the Council's Local Plans.

'Without the motorway improvements, Welborne would only be able to bring forward 1160 new homes and the Council would need to find space for the additional 4840 homes elsewhere in the Borough.'

Reacting to the news on Facebook, local Kay Sumpner said: 'Where is all the wildlife you e made homeless going to? I regularly saw deer on those fields, and foxes and rabbits.'

Locals have previously spoken out against the development.

They said the mile-long picturesque Knowle Road which leads into the village - a 'green corridor' - has been destroyed.

Loraine Rappe, who chairs the Knowle Residents' Association, previously said it is a 'shame' that they have destroyed the green space.

'The particular annoyance is the destruction of all the shrubs and trees,' she said.

'People have been referring to the whole development as Hellborne,'

Kayleigh Rooke set up a petition to 'Save Knowle Road Trees and Hedgerows' which have been impacted in the 'first phase' of the Welborne development.

The business support administrator said it is 'infuriating' for residents who feel as if they are being ignored by developers when campaigning against the destruction of green space.

Miss Rooke slammed the 'compete and utter disregard for how the residents feel' and said the developers have taken the 'character' of Knowle Village.

She said the area is going to be turned into a 'concrete jungle'.

Wickham surgery has spoken about the 'untenable' and 'worrying situation' as they prepare to take on Welborne residents as GP patients.

In a statement they have urged the Integrated Care Board to expand the NHS boundary to prevent 'further endangering' the practise viability - which has been made vulnerable by the risk of a 'significant patient population'.

The first Welborne homes are expected to have been delivered by the end of the year.