New details have been released over the location of traveller pitches on one of the town's major new housing developments.

Hounsome Fields, currently under construction on the north west side of the A30 near Beggarwood, will have two pitches for travellers as part of the borough's provision.

It will be accessed directly from Trenchards Lane, close to its junction with the A30, and will be completely isolated from the rest of the housing estate.

It will be surrounded by trees and a 1.8-metre high fence, with lockable gates, but is in close proximity to allotments for the development.

Basingstoke Gazette: The plan for the travellers site off Trenchard Lane. Photo: BDBC.The plan for the travellers site off Trenchard Lane. Photo: BDBC.

By law, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council must provide a certain number of pitches, which are set to be met in new developments.

It has proved a highly contentious part of the planning process for the neighbouring development at Basingstoke Golf Course, with councillors and residents up in arms over the initial provision, before the revised plans were approved last year.

And the initial plans put forward for the pitches here in 2018 were similarly controversial, with more than 50 objections on various grounds including its proximity to the motorway and its lack of public transport connections.

Basingstoke Gazette: The site plan for Hounsome Fields (Photo: BDBC).The site plan for Hounsome Fields (Photo: BDBC).

Hampshire County Council had also objected, labelling Trenchards Lane as "inadequate" for the size and amount of traffic created.

The plans were withdrawn in 2019 after its location, near to a gas pipeline, was questioned, but now plans have returned.

The access to the site, in the westernmost part of Hounsome Fields, will be from Trenchards Lane between its junction with the A30 and a private road to Southwood Farm - opposite Keepers Cottage.

The road has a national speed limit and is close to a blind corner, whilst a new passing place will be constructed on the road just to the south of the site.

It will feature space for two pitches - including space for a trailer, a parking space and a fixed 'amenity building'.

The back-to-back building will feature a bathroom, kitchenette and living space for each pitch, and also have a garden area.

As well as the fence, green space and a footpath with divide the traveller pitches from the main housing development.