PEOPLE at a crowded meeting have attacked a housing developer’s plans for a village near Winchester.

Some 40 people gathered to hear a developer’s vision for up to 50 homes, mostly affordable, on the edge of Kings Worthy.

One resident said: “We don’t need more affordable homes – there are already three in the village that are empty.”

At times villagers shouted at Neil Holmes, of Drew Smith Ltd which has submitted an outline application for land off Hookpit Farm Lane, known as Top Field.

Mr Holmes gave a presentation to the hostile crowd, who raised concerns about intrusion on the sky line, open space, parking, traffic, flooding and school places.

Mr Holmes said there are two options: 25 or 50 homes and it is up to the city council to decide which it prefers.

“We have been working on this for some time. These plans are just illustrative at the moment, for up to 50 dwellings on Top Field, with the potential for seven on Dildawn.”

He also said the 50 dwelling option has access to Springvale Road. “We did that because people on Hookpit raised concerns about the Tesco junction. We are listening to your concerns,” he said.

However, members of the Top Field Action Group (TFAG) said they don’t want to see any building on the field.

Sandie Evans, the group’s secretary, said: “We want to keep the field as an open space. It has been used by people for years for dog walking and various recreations and we want it to remain that way. It is the last remaining open space in Kings Worthy. “There’s a village green application waiting approval by Hampshire County Council, if it’s agreed they won’t be able to build on it anyway.”

Mr Holmes said if it goes ahead, the site would provide 70 per cent affordable homes, 11.6 acres of public open space and 3.7 acres of public amenity space along the disused railway.

But city councillor Ian Tait, portfolio holder for housing services, said he thinks the scheme could help with the city’s housing crisis.

“What Drew Smith is offering is more than the required 40 per cent affordable housing,” he said.

“We have a shortage of affordable housing and Kings Worthy is a sustainable location, so delivering that in Kings Worthy is something that is good for the district.”

He also said the council is strongly reliant on parish councils and residents’ comments to make decisions about the local plan.

The public consultation for Local Plan Part Two opens on October 24.