The welcome news comes as the rest of the south east was reeling at the revelation that councils across the region will have to find room for an extra 5,000 homes a year for almost two decades – on top of the annual 28,900 already planned.

But as part of that announcement the secretary of state for communities and local government, Hazel Blears, yesterday confirmed that the number of new homes built across south Hampshire during the next 18 years will stay at 80,000.

Council leaders welcomed yesterday's development, after bracing themselves for bad news.

Portsmouth council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: 'I made it absolutely clear that if they tried to force more homes here I would oppose it every step of the way. I am very pleased they have listened to our lobbying and aren't going to be doing that.'

The new figures were revealed in Ms Blears' response to the South East Plan – a blueprint for how the region will develop up until 2026.

The document, along with the changes she has made, will now undergo a 12-week consultation before finally getting the rubber-stamp from the government.

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire – a body of 11 local councils – helped work out where the 80,000 homes will go.

Chairman Cllr Sean Woodward said: 'I am absolutely delighted that the work of PUSH has been vindicated and the numbers have stayed exactly the same.

'We put forward very credible arguments that were all evidence based as to why we should have that number and no more.'

But campaigners have sent out a clear message that the government must now stump up the cash to build infrastructure for the thousands of new homes.

Claire Smith, of Gosport, formed South Hampshire's Unheard Voices (SHUV) for members of the public to have their say about the massive housebuilding programme.

She said: 'It is really good news that there is no additional houses – if there had been any more it would have been a disaster.

'But the original figure of 80,000 was already too high. We are going to struggle with a lack of dentists, hospitals, schools and sewage.'