PLANS have been lodged for 17 homes on green space in Overton, but the development is smaller than originally proposed.

Noel and Marianne Preece have submitted a proposal for homes on land to the west of Dellands Lane, with open spaces incorporated, as well as rerouting a section of the current road.

As previously reported, residents have expressed their disappointment, with some pointing out that homes could be built on the unoccupied brownfield site Overton Mill, which closed last year.

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Prior to the application being submitted advice was sought on the layout of the site which at that stage incorporated 21 dwellings, but council planners said the “density was too urban in nature” and the “location was not considered acceptable”.

A planning document states: “The site is served by Dellands Lane and Dellands and is well connected to community facilities and services which are within walking and cycling distance. Even though Dellands Lane is quite narrow, drivers continue using it as a rat-run to avoid heavy traffic that is occasionally caused by roadworks or slow traffic lights.

“The site currently exists as grazing pasture on the edge of the village of Overton. It is just under a hectare in area and is bounded by mature hedgerows and vegetation on all sides. There are Public Rights of Way beyond the southern and western boundaries.

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”Retaining the majority of the vegetation has been identified as a key design consideration to maintain the rural character and protect biodiversity. Part of the hedgerow is required to be removed for the access routes but this will be kept to a minimum and additional planting will take place within the site.

"Dellands Lane currently permits two-way traffic flows and evidence suggests that it attracts a significant level of rat-running traffic. This situation has been determined to be unsustainable, and as such it is considered that there is potential to improve traffic conditions by realigning the part of Dellands Lane parallel to the site and creating a new route that will pass through the site.”

The proposed plan for the site will include six two-bed homes, seven three-beds and four four-beds.

Local resident, Jeff Hewitt, previously said: "Why on earth would Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council allow another greenfield site to be built in the space between Overton and Southington while we have an unused brownfield site in the village in the form of Portals Mill?"