THE last meadow in central Winchester is to be developed for housing, city planners have ruled.

But far from opposing the scheme, the majority of residents living near St John’s Croft have given the scheme their backing.

Winchester City Council’s planning committee heard on Thursday (October 28) that neighbours saw the loss of the greenfield site as “inevitable”.

As a result, they were campaigning for the right scheme to come forward instead of protecting the land from all developers.

They had already succeeded twice in fending off plans for 14 homes on the plot, which is beside Blue Ball Hill.

However, ward councillor Brian Collin said the latest application for six houses was acceptable.

He said: “We’re not looking at the least worst alternative here, we’re looking at the best one.”

He added: “Everybody has always accepted that development on this meadow is inevitable, but it has to be something the residents can live with.”

David Battye, spokesman for St John’s Action Group, said they held talks with building firm, Alfred Homes.

They were called in by landowners after the first two schemes were rejected, and their fresh attempt was much better, he said.

Mr Battye added that the meadow was not large enough for 14 homes, as had previously been put forward.

However, council officers said the site was big enough and called for the new scheme to be rejected.

They argued that six houses with four bedrooms failed to provide enough homes and a good mixture of housing.

But councillors overruled them, partly because of the new scheme’s popularity.

Cllr Eileen Berry said: “I’ve never known a development to be supported by local people so much.”

No fewer than 21 people wrote to the council to back the plan, along with Winchester MP Steve Brine, who campaigned with the residents. Five people objected.

Cllr Therese Evans said: “We’ve all spent a lot of time on this and I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the solution.”

The committee voted unanimously to reject the officers’ advice and approved the plan.