Major plans for two boarding houses and development of a playing field at Winchester College will be decided by city council planners.

Their officers are urging them to approve the controversial plans.

The college, the city's biggest private employer, is seeking permission for the scheme on tennis courts at Kingsgate Park, off St Cross Road.

A large chunk of the park would also be redeveloped for an all-weather hockey pitch with artificial grass. Two sections of wall on St Cross Road will be demolished to allow access to the houses.

They are needed for the private school to accept girl boarders from 2024.

The scheme will be decided by Winchester City Council's planning committee on Wednesday August 16. It is recommended for permission and has had comments from 16 objectors and four supporters.

In the planning officer's report, it said: “The development is recommended for permission as it is considered that the principle of development is acceptable in that the site is within the settlement boundary and the encroachment into an area of open space is justified.

"While the proposals will have some impact on the setting of listed buildings and the conservation area, and include the loss of one good quality tree, these issues have been carefully assessed and due to the high-quality design of the buildings and their careful siting, and the benefits arising from improving the college facilities, the impacts are considered to be acceptable upon these heritage and landscape assets and upon the wider landscape setting.

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“The application is therefore considered to be in accordance with the development plan and will make a positive contribution to the local environment and Winchester city and will bring benefits to the accessibility of the college as a facility.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

Jane Heard, secretary of Kingsgate Tennis Club, said: “The college has been proactive in presenting the case for this development and seeking the opinions of us as an active tennis club with over 500 members.

“We only see this development as a positive benefit to Winchester and our tennis club members. The facility would benefit various clubs, in particular hockey, but it also will allow a much increased tennis facility in the summer.”

Bill Gunyon, of St John's Street, Winchester, said: “I object to this application on account of its failure to accommodate any onsite renewable energy generation. 

“It's inconceivable that new build and land-use change on this scale should be unable to identify any roof, ground or canopy space for a single solar panel. The message this conveys to prospective major developments in the city is regressive and inconsistent with the local authority's ambitions for carbon neutrality.

“A much more determined and creative attempt should be made to instal onsite solar pv technology sufficient to match the total demand for electricity of the whole site. The young occupants of these buildings will expect no less.”

To view the plans online, search 22/02812/FUL on Winchester City Council's planning portal.