PLANS to build 350 homes on green space on the edge of Popley – neighbouring a development which was once described as “the most objected to application in the history of Basingstoke” - have been lodged.

David Wilson Southern has submitted an outline planning application for up to 350 dwellings, landscaping, public open space and associated infrastructure on land at Kiln Farm, Kiln Road, between Sherborne St John and Popley.

In 2013, David Wilson was given the go-ahead for 450 homes on neighbouring land by the secretary of state for the department for communities and local government.

The scheme resulted in more than 530 letters of objection, and a petition with hundreds of signatures was submitted, while only three letters of support were received.

READ MORE: David Wilson Homes plans to build 350 homes on Kiln Farm

A planning statement submitted to the council said: "The site provides the opportunity to deliver housing within a sustainable location to make a significant contribution towards addressing an identified housing land supply shortfall within Basingstoke and Deane Borough.

"The applicant’s vision for the Land at Kiln Farm is to promote connectivity, health and wellbeing through the provision of high-quality homes for all whilst following the principles of the 20-minute neighbourhood. The site will provide an extension to the existing Popley residential area on the northern edge of Basingstoke, comprising a mixture of market and affordable homes set within a sensitively considered and landscape-led setting."

Forty per cent of the up to 350 homes plans will be affordable housing of which 25 per cent will be first homes.

The application has already received 35 objections with neighbours criticising the lack of adequate local infrastructure to cope with more development.

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Ward councilor David McIntyre said: "Over the last decade, Basingstoke & Deane has experienced nearly double the population growth compared to the national average for England and Wales. No-one can accuse this authority of not playing their part in building homes for future generations. However, developments such as Kiln Farm are not the answer.

"Developments must be sympathetic to residents’ wishes and not simply ride rough shod over our local plan. This development is wrong, it’s being proposed in one of our strategic gaps, a fundamental planning protection, designed to prevent coalescence between Basingstoke and our rural villages.

"I personally believe our strategic gaps are the foundational cornerstone of protecting our rural makeup that makes Basingstoke & Deane such a fantastic place to live and speculative applications such as Kiln Farm, if allowed to proceed, would destroy the very essence of our beautiful borough.”

One of the residents who objected, Elizabeth Marshall, said: "The infrastructure of the local area is struggling to cope at the moment and any further homes will push it over the edge. Provision does not appear to have been made for the increase in people needing a GP surgery, dentist or school. The local roads are already getting dangerous with all the traffic - both through and for the estate, and if you build this development it will get a lot worse." 

While, Laura Beer said: "We don't need more homes, they're being built everywhere by the thousands here. The local facilities cannot support hundreds if not thousands more residents, they can't cope with the population that's already here."

To view the planning application, documents and public comments by entering reference number 23/00205/OUT in the council planning portal.