CIVIC chiefs in Alresford will meet next week to discuss a Winchester City Council list of potential development sites, which includes Perins School.

It comes after the SHELAA (Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment) list was published last month as part of Winchester City Council’s work to produce a Local Plan for up to 2036.

The document allows landowners around the district to promote their sites, although they may never actually be used, and includes space for 323 homes.

Although the plans are yet to be discussed by Alresford Town Council, city councillor for Alresford and the Itchen Valley Kim Gottlieb gave the list a cautious welcome.

Cllr Gottlieb said: “I’ve always been in favour of spreading the policy quota in suitable locations around town, rather than plonking virtually all of it on Sun Lane. As new policy is formed some of the SHELAA sites are a tad speculative, but with the right density, design and mix of housing most of them could work, though not all will be needed.

“The key issues are sensitivity to location and affordability. To keep Alresford thriving it must maintain its charm whilst being available to all groups of residents and their families.”

As previously reported, the Sun Lane development will see up to 320 homes built on land to the east of the town. It was approved last June, but was hugely controversial among residents.

Among the list of SHELAA sites was playing field land at Perins secondary school. If the site was used for housing, it could accommodate 16 homes.

A spokesman for Perins said the land was of little use to the academy.

Clive Surry, business manager, said it is little-used and was furthest part the main school complex. It was only large enough for a Year 7 game of rugby, he said.

In recent years the school has used the rugby facilities at nearby Arlebury Park.

Mr Surry said: “This submission was done a while ago for a small plot of land at the end of our playing fields. It is not something we going to do anything with in the near future.

“We are keeping our options open. It is something we may not progress.

“We have not spoken to anybody, no architects, consultants or developers.”

A spokesman for Alresford Town Council confirmed it would be discuss the list at its meeting on Tuesday, January 22, and declined to comment before then.

However, Winchester city and Alresford town councillor Margot Power said: “The site on Perins adjoins Bridge Road, it is outside the development boundary and therefore would only be considered for an Exception site.

“I am always happy to look at ‘affordable’ housing where we can restrict residency to local families.”

Other potential Alresford development sites featured in the SHELAA list include 100 homes at Thody’s and 54 at Netherbourne, both off New Farm Road and currently in use as farm land; 68 homes on farm land off Drove Lane; and 6 where the Bridge Road Scout Hut is currently located.

Land was also listed for 68 homes next to Arlebury Park. An outline planning application for up to 60 homes on this land was submitted in 2016, but was refused.

The plans proved divisive among residents and planners threw out the scheme because it was deemed to be “detrimental” to the countryside, didn’t feature any affordable housing and local schools would not be able to cope with the population rise.