INTERNATIONAL brewing giant Molson Coors has won a 10-year battle to build on its sports ground in Alton's Anstey Road.

After years of wrangling, borne out of a determination to be rid of land the company described as "surplus to requirement", East Hampshire District Council's decision came at its meeting last Thursday.

The planning committee granted outline permission to Molson Coors Brewing Co (UK) Ltd for the building of up to 85 new homes on the 2.27-hectare site, with unanimous support from councillors.

It was a red letter day, bringing relief to those who will benefit from sports facilities, to be provided elsewhere as a condition of planning, but despair to those who have fought long and hard to prevent the site from disappearing under a sea of bricks and mortar.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.