THE large-scale development of land at Cadnam Farm looks set for a good airing at an Alton Eastbrooke and Wooteys Residents’ Association meeting next week.

The ‘meet your neighbours’ session takes place on December 3.

The hot topic follows the distribution of a newsletter by Persimmon and Martin Grant Homes outlining the expected timeline for the building of up to 275 new homes on the 31-acre Cadnam Farm site, which stretches between Gilbert White Way and Upper Anstey Lane.

Having been granted outline planning permission by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) in May, to establish the principle of residential development and access points for the new estate, the next step for Martin Grant Homes and Persimmon is to submit three reserved matters applications, detailing layout, appearance and position of the houses, roads and open spaces, before which they are seeking input from the community.

The proposal is for the maximum number of homes, in a mix of sizes from one-bed apartments to five-bed houses, with an emphasis on family homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable.

While the two developers are developing one half of the site each, the designs and layouts are being prepared by the same architect. The houses will be predominantly two-storeys high, with a limited number of three-storey buildings, and with one, two or three allocated parking spaces depending on their overall size.

The main access to the site will be off Upper Anstey Lane, which will require a realignment of the junction with Gilbert White Way to create a staggered junction at the site access point.

Following feedback from residents, the proposal is to close Upper Anstey Lane to through traffic to the north of the new site entrance, to prevent rat runs. The applicants are currently working with Hampshire County Council to progress the consents needed to do this and are expected to hold a consultation on the proposals in the near future.

A secondary access point into the site will be created off Gilbert White Way at Blanes Farm.

In addition, the proposal aims to improve Gilbert White Way with the introduction of traffic-calming measures and safe crossings for pedestrians, and to install a new mini-roundabout to improve the junction of Anstey Lane with Anstey Road. Both of these matters are being addressed during ongoing discussions with the county council.

One of the key concerns expressed by townsfolk over the development has centred upon the question of water run-off from the site, which historically has resulted in localised flooding at the bottom of Upper Anstey Lane.

In seeking to address the issue, the developers say they have tested the ground conditions of the site and designed “a drainage strategy to ensure the site will not flood and will not increase the amount of water flowing off the site”.

This, they say, has been agreed in principle with the Environment Agency.

In the newsletter, the developers have endeavoured to allay local fears. It reads: “We will use a variety of methods, such as permeable surfaces, soakaways and natural ditches and swales to capture rainwater.

“This will improve the situation on site and also off site as the sustainable drainage system will reduce the amount of water that leaves the site as run-off.”

Landscaped footpaths will provide access to the areas of open space around the development, with a woodland walk and trim trail around the northern boundary, and pedestrian and cycle links to neighbouring open spaces and housing. Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained and, along with new planting, will form a green buffer between the development and surrounding fields and houses.

With plans to submit the reserve matters applications to EHDC before the end of the year, work should start on site next year, in a phased manner on both sides of Upper Anstey Lane, and would be expected to take around three years to complete.

People can have their say on the Cadnam Farm proposals by calling 0800 9889141, by e-mailing [email protected], or visiting cadnamfarmconsultation.co.uk.

Alternatively, people can write to the Cadnam Farm Team, Camargue PR, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1TA.

In recognising that a development of this size can be expected to have an enormous impact on the residents of both Alton Eastbrooke and Wooteys Residents’ Association wards, Thursday’s meeting will be designed to facilitate discussion on the subject in an informal and inclusive manner.

The meeting starts at 7pm at the Alton Buckle community building attached to Wootey Infant School, and the invitation to attend is open to all those who live in the two wards.