VILLAGERS have slated a plan to build a new housing estate on farmland between Hook and Newnham.

As reported in The Gazette, developer Taylor Wimpey wants to build a 60-home estate at High Ridge Farm, in Newnham Road, with vehicle and pedestrian access from Brown Croft.

But the plan, which has now been submitted to Hart District Council, has attracted nearly 100 comments from members of the public – the majority of which are objections.

Many people have questioned the need for the estate when land to the north-east of the village has been earmarked for more than 500 homes.

One objector wrote: “Like many other complainants, I have lived in Hook for over 25 years and seen it grow from a pleasantly-sized village to a small town where infrastructure is overstretched.

“As we are already ‘absorbing’ 550 new houses there, I think it is time that further housing requirements are met by other villages such as Rotherwick, Greywell, Long Sutton etc rather than Hook.”

Another said: “This will be another nail in Hook as a village. These developments are destroying the very reason why people want to live here!”

Others fear the new estate will stretch the village’s infrastructure, putting pressure on roads, the GP surgery and the junior and infant schools.

The developer held a consultation evening at Elizabeth Hall in July last year.

At the time, David Edwards, senior strategic planning manager at Taylor Wimpey, said: “We are confident that this development would not only fulfil a need for more high-quality homes in the local area, but that it would also provide a new large area of public open space.”

A decision will be made by March 13.