A SWATHE of Hampshire countryside which was at the centre of a 25-year battle over a controversial scheme for new town has gone up for sale.

Campaigners are today celebrating the marketing of the 4,230-acre Hampshire estate.

Zurich Assurance have put the Sutton Scotney estate on the market with a guide price of £45 million.

The main campaign group says the relatively low asking price shows Zurich no longer harbours any hope that it could be the base for a 12,500-home Micheldever New Town.

The threat prompted a major campaign by the Dever Society to stop the scheme getting planning permission.

It was rejected by the city council, planning inspectors and in 2014 by the High Court.

Douglas Paterson, chairman of the Dever Society, and a tenant farmer of Zurich, said: “It was not just a case of local people fighting a massive development on their doorstep; the whole future of this part of Hampshire was at stake.

“With a major development at Micheldever, there would eventually have been almost continuous development from Basingstoke to Southampton, destroying the character of a large part of this beautiful county.

"Furthermore, it would have had an adverse economic impact on neighbouring towns such as Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester.”

Mr Paterson said Zurich were marketing the land as still having development potential, but added: “However, Zurich also retain a claw-back clause on any future development, so the incentive for any new owner to revive the new town idea is limited.

"Any new owner should be aware that the Dever Society is still here, and we will fight as hard as ever should the new town idea again rear its ugly head.”

City council leader Stephen Godfrey said: “Until we know the identity of the purchaser I would be cautious.”

Patrick Davies, a long-time member of the planning committee and chairman of the policy group at the City of Winchester Trust, but speaking in a personal capacity, said: “If this means the proposal have disappeared that would be great.

"It never seemed a good idea. It would be interesting to know the reasons they are selling.”

Zurich was asked for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.

Giles Wordsworth Director of Savills farms and estates, said: “The estate is being marketed as a whole in order to protect and secure the development opportunities offered.

"Its location, existing structure and potential for additional revenue/capital receipts means it is one of the most significant rural investments to come to the market recently.”

The vendor, Zurich, regularly reviews the asset holdings of its With-Profits Fund. The latest evaluation concluded a sale of The Sutton Scotney estate was the optimal solution for policyholders.