THE first show homes at a major Winchester development were revealed at its launch event.

TV presenter and property expert Amanda Lamb officially opened the show village at CALA Homes’ Kings Barton development, known as Barton Farm.

Born in Portsmouth, Amanda was an estate agent for a number of years before presenting shows like A Place in the Sun.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, more than 200 house-hunters were invited to chat with Amanda and take a look around the three homes off Andover Road – The Catherine, The Chesil and The Avington.

The development includes homes with between two and five bedrooms, as well as two bedroom apartments.

The first homes of the Northern Gateway are aimed at a range of prospective owners, from first-time buyers to families, and several reservations were made on the day.

Plans for the site also include community facilities such as a school, a health centre, leisure facilities, sustainable transport links and a green open space.

Alison Deakin, sales and marketing director for CALA Homes, said: “We had a fantastic launch event on Saturday and it was wonderful to see so many people come along to see our new showhomes and join in the celebrations."

CALA Homes got planning permission in 2012 for homes on the farmland on the northern edge of Winchester.

The provision of 2,000 homes, the biggest development in the area since the building of Badger Farm in the 1980s, has been a major part of the city's requirement for homes in the Local Plan.

Construction of homes is due to finish in around 2025-6.