NINE new “high-quality houses” in a Hampshire market town could be built by early next year, after plans were given the green light.

The application to build a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes in Cupernham Lane, Romsey has been submitted by Stratland Estates Ltd.

It was approved by Test Valley Borough Council’s Southern Area Planning Committee.

However, chairman of the committee, Cllr Mark Cooper, said a debate was sparked over the proposed designs, with some community leaders believing they were “bland and suburban”.

A spokesperson from Stratland Estates said they expect the houses to be completed in early 2022, and even claim that each property could be given an electric charging point for cars.

They said: “We are delighted that councillors gave approval for nine high-quality houses north of Woodpeckers on Cupernham Lane.

“Members recognised in the debate the difficulty in conveying crisp modern architecture in two-dimensional planning drawings, and while some members raised concern about this drawn detail, the majority who voted in favour of the proposals acknowledged that the success of the scheme will be in the quality of the craftsmanship and materials used.”

This comes after some residents raised concerns about the plans, believing it could harm animals using the Fishlake Meadows site.

One said: “If the development goes ahead there will be a continuous ‘urban’ barrier between the Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve and the lands east of Cupernham Lane.

“This has implications for the movement and health of the wildlife in this immediate area.”

Roger Bunney, who lives on Grayling Mead, added: “The proposed development offers little environmental enhancement in its overdeveloped layout for the site size.

He added: “Continuous development has caused both noise and air pollution in residential areas and major congestion within Romsey town centre.

“Many streets are polluted and continuing development will only increase these problems.”