THERE were scenes of jubilation when Test Valley councillors gave the green light to a controversial scheme to build more than 30 homes in a Hampshire village.

Loud clapping echoed around the debating chamber after the council’s southern area planning committee voted unanimously to approve Linden Homes scheme for 32 homes at Broughton near Stockbridge.

Long-serving Broughton parish councillor Pam Dawkins who has lived in the village all her life could not contain her excitement and she even performed a little dance.

“I am just so thrilled that this is actually going to happen. These houses will help keep our young in the village which his what we need,” said 84-year-old Mrs Dawkins who said the parish council had been working on the scheme for about five years.

Chairman of Broughton Parish Council Ed James said the homes were vital to help sustain the long-term future of the community.

He said: “We firmly believe that the proposal will bring considerable benefits to the village and it is a sustainable solution for the future of our community. It will provide affordable social housing, mid price open market housing for families predominantly two and three bedroom dwellings and other homes, including bungalows for those wishing to downsize."

Mr James added that the development will provide much needed parking at nearby Broughton Primary School and the GP surgery in School Lane where the new housing will go.

Mr James said the parish council elections were held in May an all the candidates that stood against the proposed development failed to get a seat on the grassroots authority.

“In fact in a turnout of 79 per cent, the candidates in favour of this development received 70 per cent of the votes,” added Mr James who said more villagers were in favour of the proposed development than against.

Village shopkeeper and postmaster Bob Gillespie, who has lived at Broughton with his parish councillor wife Judith for 16 years, said it was good news for the community.

He said: “I am very pleased that this has been approved in a democratic process. Most of the village is behind this development and the site chosen for the housing was the most sustainable. I do feel sorry for those who live close by but this happens all over the place but we need this to bring in young blood to the village."

Debating the plans Test Valley deputy leader Martin Hatley said the proposals would “help sustain” the community and would help young people get on the housing ladder.

King’s Somborne and Michelmersh member Tony Ward said that a housing scheme like this did not have the support of everyone in the communities affected but the Broughton proposals would help 12 families looking for an affordable home in the village.

“What is clear is is our rural villages need mixed housing,” said Mr Ward.

Valley Park member Alan Dowden said it was vital to maintain village shops and school and building most homes like the proposed Broughton ones was one way of doing it.

“Too many villages are dying because of insufficient development and if numbers drop the village school will go,” said Mr Dowden.

Danny Busk who represents the Broughton and Stockbridge ward said the proposals had created “considerable discord” and he urged people on both sides of the argument for the homes at Broughton to accept whatever the outcome of the debate was.

Before the debate villagers Alan Mackay and Harry Paul attacked the plans. They claimed it was “not community led” and it was “speculative”.