THE arguing, the marches, the inquiries, the whole palaver is over; Barton Farm is being developed.

After a battle stretching back to the late 1990s, the 2,000-home development on the edge of Winchester is taking shape with 120 builders constructing the first homes on the greenfield development.

The sales office has opened and CAL has a database with 1,000 interested people.

Hiccups at the start of the construction phase, which got outline planning permission back in 2012, have been sorted and building is proceeding apace on the first phase of 423 homes at the northern end of the 100-hectare site.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The first residents are expected to move in in March onto a development which is expected to take 10 years to complete.

It includes 800 affordable homes, a new neighbourhood centre with shops, community facilities and open spaces, as well as a primary school, set to open in September 2018.

Hampshire Chronicle:

CALA are planning for a food store, six shops, a pub, cafe and community building with healthcare facilities.

There will also be extra care housing for the elderly and a private 60-bed nursing home.

Space has been set aside for a new park and ride 200-space car park.

Alison Deakin, sales and marketing manager for CALA Homes Thames, gave the Chronicle a tour of the site along with site manager Andy Cowan.

She said: "It is the culmination of many years hard work. It is a flagship development for CALA and we are incredibly proud of it."

A key stage will be the 650th occupation which means that CALA must complete the building of the new Andover Road which will swing through the site.