PLANS to build hundreds of homes on Old Sarum Airfield were met with overwhelming opposition last night as those living in neighbouring villages blasted the development.

Laverstock and Ford Parish Council met to discuss its response to the outline planning application which, if approved, would see 470 homes being built on the airfield as well as ten residential aircraft hangars, a visitor centre, a museum and restaurant.

Speaking before councillors voted on the application, former parish council chairman Ron Champion called the plans "gross overdevelopment" with interpretation of the core policy equating to "building on every blade of grass" within development boundaries and ignoring statements that the master plan be developed in partnership with the local community.

He said: "This is a 100-year-old airfield and requires protection of heritage assets and preservation of the character of the conservation area.

"The developer cannot demonstrate that he has worked in partnership. They have never given meaning to the words or spirit of this, working behind closed doors, in confidence, and not with the local community."

Another local resident, Bill Preece, said the airfield's managing director Grenville Hodge was misleading the public and "trampling all over the military covenant" by linking the development with charity Homes 4 Heroes.

He said: "I contacted Homes 4 Heroes and spoke to their CEO who didn't know anything about it - to pull on the heartstrings of people in an area which has close links with the military is wrong."

One resident said it was "farcical" to pretend the plans would still enable flying to continue, calling it a "naked housing development" as there would soon be complaints over noise and "flying will cease".

Mark Uffindell highlighted environmental concerns saying the plans were "another nail in the coffin" for green spaces around Salisbury while others spoke of traffic fears on roads such as Green Lane in Ford.

Mr Hodge, who attended the meeting, responded by saying while he understood the concerns, there were "lots of misleading statements". He said he had spoken to Homes for Heroes and one of its "major benefactors" and that he would "dearly like" to use the charity for its affordable homes.

He told the meeting, the plans were about providing housing, protecting the heritage and ensuring the future of flying as well as providing community benefits, adding: "I understand people living here won't like all of it, some of it or any of it but we can't build houses in this country if everyone living next door of it has a veto."

Airfield manager Angus Beale was accused of intimidation at the meeting when, after being told to "shut up" by Mr Champion and "be quiet" by Mr Uffindell during a short statement, he responded with "I've got my eyes on you."

Voting unanimously against the plans, councillors cited them as being at odds with several core policies within the Wiltshire Core Strategy, the absence of details on finances required to sustain the airfield, the lack of community involvement in developing the plans and the scant regard to the meaning of a conservation area.

Last week Salisbury City Council's Planning and Transportation Committee backed the plans when considering their response as a neighbouring parish, voting seven to two in favour of the application.

* A public meeting is being held at Old Sarum Community Centre on Wednesday, July 22 at 7pm to discuss the plans. It is being organised by Laverstock and Ford Parish Council. The consultation ends on July 30 with a decision likely to be taken by the end of the year - once it has gone before Wiltshire councillors. To view the plans, visit planning.wiltshire.gov.uk and search for 15/04004/OUT.

* Mr Hodge has told the Journal today that there has been some confusion over which Homes for Heroes charity is being referred to. People contacting the charity UK Homes 4 Heroes are finding it knows nothing about the development but Mr Hodge says it is the wrong charity. He has been in talks with Launchpad, part of the Armed Forces & Veterans charity which was formerly called Homes for Heroes when it began in 2008. For more details see here.