WITHIN days of a plan saying hundreds of houses should be built on Petersfield farm land, proposals for a 200-home estate have been unveiled.
David Wilson and Barratt Homes have now increased the number of homes they want to build on Causeway Farm from 159 to 200.
The proposal was revealed just eight days after the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) approved the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan, including a recommendation by a government examiner that there should be 200 homes on the site.
A spokesman for the developers said: “The proposal has been revised to reflect the changes in the neighbourhood plan recommended by the examiner.”
The developers say a planning application for the estate is likely to be submitted to SDNPA planners soon.
The spokesman said: “We expect to submit a planning application in October, and will ensure the community is kept informed of its progress.”
More than 50 people attended an exhibition of the plans in Petersfield library last Friday.
Simon Carew is one of the Causeway residents opposed to the proposed estate.
He said: “I’m not happy about this, and will be objecting to the plans, when the application goes in.”
Another resident, Moyra Goodsir, said: “I couldn’t believe they have come back with such a high number.
“I couldn’t see any play areas, or riverside walks – it looks like 200 houses and no community benefits.”
The spokesman said instead of community benefits, East Hampshire District Council will get a huge cash contribution from the developers.
It is proposed that about 80 homes will be social housing, funded by Radian Housing, which provides social housing in East?Hampshire. These will be spread throughout the estate, and will be similar in style to the rest of the housing, say the developers. The development will be a mix of one bedroom units, and three- and four-bedroom homes.
The proposals also show that almost opposite Cranford Road, and where the estate entry joins The Causeway, grass verges will be removed to make space for an improved and bigger junction.