A DEVELOPER has offered to more than double the size of a wildlife reserve as part of a unique proposal that would see a 12.5-hectare housing site built on a field in Oliver's Battery. 

Montare - a Hertfordshire-based company that says it aims to create 'thoughtful developments' through working with local authorities, landowners, and communities - recently revealed its plans for the land at Texas Drive during a brief presentation to the parish council. 

In what was described as an 'initial approach' by the developer, the outline proposal doesn't yet state how many houses would be earmarked for the land - which sits to the south of the spur.

The area - of which only some is being sighted for development - totals 18 hectares and consists of undulating open downland with mixed ancient woodland, chalk hedges, and downland scarps.

It is currently used by the public for recreation including walking and mountain biking and has also been registered by the parish council as an asset of community value.

It backs onto Yew Hill, a butterfly reserve that Mark Wellings, partner at Montare, said would "more than double" in size as part of the package.

"The hope is the areas will bleed into each other," he added. "We're not like other developers, we're very conscious about the footprint we leave behind and any development needs to increase biodiversity - which is not an easy thing to do."

Hampshire Chronicle: The proposed zoning plan | Credit: Austin Design Works for MontareThe proposed zoning plan | Credit: Austin Design Works for Montare (Image: Montare)

Mr Wellings added that affordability and encouraging local families to "thrive" would be central to any plan and that a community land trust could be formed to help complete the project.

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Around 50 to 60 people attended the 15-minute presentation on Tuesday, October 4.

The parish council has said it doesn't comment on any informal proposals. However, the Chronicle understands it is an 'unwelcome' development.

Winchester City Councillor Jan Warwick, of the Badger Farm & Oliver's Battery ward, said: "As the city council is about to consult on its local plan, the parish council has been surveying residents’ views and 95 per cent of respondents were against any development on this site. 

"This site is not in the draft Winchester City Council Regulation 18 Plan and would need to be approved as a strategic development site before any planning permission was given."

Mr Wellings added: "As a business, we're not going for sites in the local plan draft because we can't compete with other developers while trying to deliver sustainable homes and biodiversity. We need to do things a little differently.

"This site is on the edge of a settlement, if it's not me it'll be someone else in the next 10 years. What I'm saying is let's do it now and do it the right way.

"We believe our offering is exemplary, but we won't make a formal application unless we get positive feedback from the local community that they want to work with us cogently and collaboratively - and I mean that. For everyone's sake, it's not worth going down that road."