A PROPOSED housing development in Overton received a mixed response when the plans went on show.

Urban planners Turley Associates showcased their idea for 120 homes on land next to Station Road, and north of the Overton Hill development.

Banknote printing firm De La Rue currently owns the 8.4-hectare site, and wants to bring in a developer to build on 3.4 hectares, as well as create a 4.8-hectare country park.

The public exhibition was held at Overton War Memorial Institute last Thursday and Turley Associates director John O’Donovan said planning permission will be submitted after De La Rue give the proposals the green light. He welcomed the scheme and said he believed the development would be a worthwhile addition to the community.

“It is going to be a high-quality development,” said Mr O’Donovan. “It will be in keeping with the character of Overton and will give residents community benefits like a country park.”

But Sophie Reid, 47, from Overton, said the addition of 120 homes would put too much strain on school places, and the area’s roads.

“We all need housing, we accept that,” said Mrs Reid. “But Overton is a small village and the infrastructure is not there, without building another 100 houses.”

Since 2000, 252 new homes have been built in Overton, and Peter Baker, who sits on the parish council, said the village “needs a break” from development.

“A lot of greenfield land has been developed in the past 10 years,” said Mr Baker. “They can’t say we are being inward looking, or nimby, but we need a break.”

However, the scheme was welcomed by Tia Stoneman and her fiancée Alex Read, both 25.

The pair said they have been struggling to buy in the village and are “pinning their hopes” on the scheme to get one.