A DEVELOPER has been given the go-ahead to expand Picket Piece - three years after it first lodged an application.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has approved an outline application to build up to 30 homes on land north of Walworth Road.

The proposal by Dunsmere Developments Ltd was first considered in August 2016 with it decided that, subject to developer contribution agreements, it would be given the green light.

But since then there has been a change in national planning policy so it was deemed the proposal should be looked at once again as no final agreement had been made.

Following months of talks the company was finally given the green light last week, after TVBC and Hampshire County Council agreed on developer contributions.

The company is expected to build up to 30 “high-quality homes”, with parking and public open space.

The scheme had drawn criticism from neighbours concerned the plan would generate more traffic, it would not be in keeping with the character of the area, and it would be overdevelopment.

TVBC has told the developer that it must follow a string of conditions before any building work.

It must carry out an archaeological survey, put in tree protection measures, and a surface water drainage scheme for the site, to name three of the conditions.

The developer will also have to submit a further application, for landscape, layout and appearance, which would need to be approved by TVBC.