UP to 200 homes could be built on fields near Wickham as part of plans to open a country park to the public.

Landowner Graham Moyse wants to build on 17 acres near Ravenswood House Hospital in Knowle.

He could also turn his meadows and open space north of the village, on the banks of the River Meon, into a public park known as Meon View.

Mr Moyse is seeking residents’ blessing for the project, but he has not revealed how many homes he is looking to build and his representatives refused to guarantee that the plans would only go ahead with community consent.

The land could fit as many as 200 houses if it is developed as densely as other parts of Knowle.

Around 50 residents attended a tour of the meadows on Saturday (October 25) with a further 30 viewing the draft plans at an exhibition in Knowle Village Hall.

The display showed that footpaths would connect the land to existing bridleways and extend the existing right of way which runs the length of the old railway line.

Mr Moyse said: "It's important that people can talk directly to me and have the opportunity to give me their ideas. As an example one resident has already asked me if there could be allotments on the land. This is just the kind of input needed.”

There will be another round of consultation before plans are submitted to Winchester City Council.