PICKET Twenty could swell to more than 1,700 homes after developers lodged revised plans for a major expansion.

Persimmon has submitted new proposals to Test Valley Borough Council asking to build another 520 new homes on land east of the current Picket Twenty site.

The expansion plans are an update of a previously withdrawn proposal, by the same developer, who originally submitted a 582 home plan back in December 2015.

However Persimmon withdrew their application in March 2016, citing “issues” pointed out to them during the planning application process.

The developer has now returned with revamped proposals, which include 60 fewer homes and a new location for a planned allotment site.

The development is still planned to be 40 per cent affordable housing.

If accepted, the extension will result in Picket Twenty bulging out towards both Andover Down and Harewood Forest.

It will also bring the total number of houses across the whole site to more than 1,700 homes.

The new proposals have proved controversial among civic leaders, who have slammed a “lack of infrastructure” on the current Picket Twenty site.

One of those who raised concerns was Andover Town Council representative, Luigi Gregori.

Speaking at the council’s planning meeting this week, he said: “A lot of the infrastructure on the current site hasn’t happened and that is a concern to me.

“It feels like we have been playing musical chairs.

“We say we are going to get the infrastructure in place and better services but then we don’t.

“We still haven’t got the local shops or the doctor’s surgery.

“I feel like we’ve been let down in terms of infrastructure.”

Committee chairman Barbara Long explained that developer, Persimmon, is only required to leave land for the infrastructure and that it is up to private companies to build and manage the facilities.

She added that both the Picket Twenty Community Centre and Pilgrims’ Cross School had been completed.

However councillor Long raised major concerns about the state of roads in the current Picket Twenty site.

The committee chairman said many roads had not been properly surfaced due to their use as access routes for construction traffic.

Councillor Long said some residents had been forced to deal with incomplete roads for nearly five years.

She highlighted in Persimmon’s plans that construction traffic to the extension site would use the current site’s access routes, and warned some residents could face “another five years” of the problem if the plans are given the green light.

A shocked councillor Gregori replied: “This is Andover, not Albania.

“We have expectations here.”

However Persimmon has denied it will delay the finishing of the roads, which will be adopted by Hampshire County Council once completed.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes South Coast, said: “We are continuing to liaise with Hampshire County Council as Highways Authority to finalise the adoption of the roads within the estate.

“This will include the completion of surfacing within the development that is already underway.

“Should the Picket Twenty expansion be approved, we do not intend this to delay the final surfacing works.”

What do you think of the plans for more homes? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@andoveradvertiser.co.uk