CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a redundant factory on the outskirts of Salisbury from becoming a housing estate have had to admit defeat.

Salisbury district councillors approved last week an outline planning application by developer Taylor Woodrow to demolish the former AE Goetze factory, on Netherhampton Road, and build up to 144 homes in its place.

Members of the council's planning and regulatory panel said the brownfield (previously developed) site was allocated for housing in the emerging local plan and so the battle to save it for employment use was already lost.

An application to build 90 homes on the site was rejected in 1999 and dismissed on appeal.

But, members heard, the inspector appointed to the subsequent local plan inquiry said there was an over-provision of employment land in the district and identified the 10.6-acre plot as a suitable brownfield housing site.

Planning officer John Hammond said the application gave rise to a number of facilities that would have to be provided: road and access improvements, cycleways and footpaths, affordable housing, recreation areas and a contribution towards educational facilities.

Councillor Michael Fowler feared that if the district lost any more employment sites, the occupants of the new houses would have to travel much further to work, which was against government policy, and Salisbury would become a tourist and retirement city.

Councillor Paul Leo agreed the loss of employment land was a problem and that there would be a demand for it to enable industries in the wrong place to relocate.

He said: "We are in danger of drifting into Neverland, and if that is our legacy to the new councillors coming in, that is very poor."

A majority of councillors approved the application with a number of conditions.

They wanted a review of where the money for recreational facilities would be spent, a review of the size of units in the affordable housing provision and the debate about educational provision to continue.