Major plans for more than 300 houses near Romsey have been submitted, expanding on the existing Kings Chase development.

Developer Barratt David Wilson Homes has submitted an outline planning application for 309 homes with associated infrastructure on the land south of Ganger Farm, in Ganger Farm Lane.

This come after the first phase of Kings Chase was completed, with 275 homes approved in 2016. This also included the Ganger Farm Sports Pavillion, which opened in September last year.

Four public objections have been received so far with another from Ampfield Parish Council. The main concerns are over the traffic problems it could cause and its location, outside the settlement boundary.

Hampshire Chronicle: Kings Chase phase 2 masterplan

Christine Hill, of Hunters Crescent, said: “This will have a big impact on the existing Ganger Farm development as all traffic will be moving through this estate, and will increase traffic on local roads, particularly Braishfield Road, where junctions are already unpleasantly busy.

"There will also be an increase in traffic using the Winchester Road and Halterworth Road routes to access Southampton and the motorways, and these roads are already busy, increasingly hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists, and really not able to cope with more cars unless the railway crossings, bridges, sharp bends and potholes are dealt with.”

Michael Stubbs, of Braishfield Road, Crookhill, said: “This proposal is building in the countryside outside of the local plan. The local plan shows housing supply is well-catered for in Test Valley.

"This 309 proposed new dwellings' only means of vehicular access is through the existing Ganger Farm development to Jermyns Lane.

"There is no proposed road access to the west or south only pedestrian or cycle access which, given the distance to the town of Romsey will likely be used lightly at best. The exit to Jermyns Lane is opposite Hillier Gardens, a renowned site internationally and will further impact the tranquillity and character of the area.”

READ MORE: Plans approved despite council taking enforcement action on same site

Nicholas Allen, also of Braishfield Road, said: “How much more development can this area possibly absorb, and when will the planning community recognise that they have already suffocated Romsey and outlying villages with their prolific corporate approval decisions, and we still face the prospect and consequences of 1,100 new homes at Whitenap? Wow, whatever happened to our lovely country home?”

The scheme's planning statement says that 40 per cent of the 309 homes will be 'affordable'. Also that it includes public footpaths, landscaping, formal and informal play space, allotments and cycle paths. 

On the planning statement, it said: “The application site covers an area of approximately 18.8 hectares. It is characterised by open land in agricultural/ horticultural use divided into parcels with vegetated field boundaries comprising hedgerows and mature trees. The northeast of the site is dominated by arable and improved grassland and the south and western areas are largely semi-natural-broadleaved woodland.

“It is located to the south of the existing Kings Chase residential development. It is bound to the northeast by Hillier Nurseries, the east by Ganger Wood which is ancient and semi-natural woodland, to the south by the A3090 Winchester Road and to the west by more woodland with existing residential development at Hunters Close, Peel Close and Silverwood Rise beyond.

“The proposal jointly addresses each strand of sustainable development to provide a wide choice of high-quality homes within a sustainable location. The scheme, as demonstrated, is compliant with national and local planning policy and it is therefore respectfully requested that planning permission is granted.”

To view the full details of the scheme online, search 23/00964/OUTS on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.