LINED up on one side are residents’ fears of traffic gridlock and wildlife experts’ concerns for scarce heathland and its rare wildlife.

On the other side is badly needed accommodation for students, new academic space, and hundreds of houses for families, including 132 affordable homes.

The battle over Talbot Heath has already been fought in front of Poole planners who sided with development, and now there is to be a rematch in front of a planning inspector.

Borough of Poole is standing by its position to grant planning permission for the controversial 450 student flats and 378 homes on farm and heath land at Wallisdown.

While campaigners, who successfully fought for the application to be called-in by Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, will maintain their opposition.

Mr Pickles has ruled the proposals “may conflict with national policies on important matters,” and in particular has concerns about the effect on the heath and wildlife.

Natural England was among those who sought a call-in and senior conservation advisor Nick Squirrell said: “Bourne Valley SSSI is a very important area of Dorset heathland, which already suffers from the effects of housing surrounding the area.

“In our view, increasing the number of houses on the doorstep of this protected site cannot but increase pressure on our already pressured wildlife.”

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, who lobbied for a call-in on behalf of residents, said he was “absolutely thrilled” the application was going to a public inquiry.

“It doesn’t wash just to say we don’t want it,” he said.

“There have to be good grounds in planning law as to why it’s inappropriate. I’m very confident there are very good points in planning that this should not stand.”

However Poole’s planning committee believed mitigation, including a cat-proof fence and heathland improvements, was enough to overcome objections and Cllr Ron Parker, Borough of Poole cabinet portfolio holder for the local economy, is far from delighted with the turn of events.

“I do have a very serious concern about this,” he said. “It is going to cost the council about £20,000 plus all the officer time for this public inquiry.

“At a time we are making economies in the council’s expenditure. This is something which we haven’t made provision for,” he said.

Richard Genge, planning regulation manager at Borough of Poole, said: “The council has made its position clear. We have a resolution to grant in accordance with the council’s policies. We will be defending that position.”

With the public inquiry unlikely to be held until next year, applicant Talbot Village Trust will have a much longer wait before knowing if the development can go ahead.

Trustee James Gibson Fleming expressed disappointment that the application was called in, after 10 years of debate and thorough study. “Including the preparation of a detailed Appropriate Assessment by independent consultants that fully demonstrated that the scheme is acceptable,” he said.

“The local planning authority undertook a very careful analysis in arriving at its balanced decision to support the scheme and achieve a development it wanted for the local area.

“Now we will of course need to demonstrate to the Secretary of State that the scheme is satisfactory and will not cause the harm that is alleged by some,” he added.