A LANDOWNER near Winchester is going to apply to build nearly 50 new homes and community facilities, a meeting heard.

Adam Welch, whose family owns land off Harestock Road, said there is not enough open space for the nearly 9,000 residents of Weeke, Teg Down and Harestock, and hopes his proposal will help.

It would see 45 new homes, including 18 affordable, five acres of new public open space, and a barn for conversion for community use.

At the first meeting of the North Winchester Community Forum, on Thursday (NOV 13), Mr Welch said: “What we are doing will be much more of a benefit to the local community.

“We are hoping that we will get support from the local residents. It will provide a very much needed open space.”

He said that Winchester City Council were “not interested” when he first put it to their planning officers.

“The council said they don’t need the housing numbers,” he said.

However Cllr Helen Osborne supported his ideas.

“I think it’s a strong proposal and I would like to see it progressing in some way,” she said.

She sat on the panel alongside councillors Anne Weir, Kelsie Learney, and Martin Tod, and residents asked about open space, affordable housing and the Barton Farm development.

Some 20 people showed up, and decided to elect a member to sit on the Barton Farm Forum – an idea the panel supported.

There was also discussion about redesigning current green spaces so they could be better used, including St Matthew’s field and Fromond Road.

The newly-formed group was set up as part of Winchester Area Community Action, which aims to give local people a voice on issues which affect them.

Mr Welch said he will be submitting the planning application “very soon”.

It is not the first time the family has considering building on the land – last July residents saw ideas for either 35 or 71 homes, but the family has never formally submitted a planning application.

The next meeting will be on Monday, February 9, at Weeke Primary School.