RESIDENTS have hit out after plans to further expand Picket Twenty have been submitted.

Foreman Homes has submitted an application to Test Valley Borough Council to build another 99 homes, including landscaping and public open space.

The plans access from Picket Twenty Way and from Phase 4 of the approved Picket Twenty new community and Picket Twenty extension and pedestrian access to London Road.

The proposed site is east of Andover at Andover Down and forms part of the Picket Twenty neighbourhood currently under construction.

Ian Caddy, an Andover Down Resident’s Action Group member is concerned that this will add to the area's issue of housing allocation.

As previously reported councillors green lighted a revised application from Persimmon to develop a further 520 homes in Picket Twenty last month.

One of the most contentious issues in the plan included the number of new houses proposed.

It is, in the words of a council officers’ report, ‘nearly double’ that outlined in the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (RPL) which proposed around 300 homes.

And Mr Caddy said he feels another 99 homes will further go against the number stipulated in the RLP.

The 70-year-old said: "Since English law is based on precedent and in fairness to the applicant, the plan should be approved, which would be over approve RLP.

"What it seems is that we should all ignore the local plan when submitting applications.

"But we all know human nature and this will be approved.

"Hopefully this won't be quite the case, but I feel trust has been lost and once trust is lost, it's never regained.

"The local plan has been lost."

Jim Thompson, also of the same action group, said he hopes the proposed houses are in keeping with the surrounding area.

The 73-year-old former owner of one of Andover’s leading estate agents said: "My only thoughts are that I would like to see better quality houses and lower density so as to blend more with the houses around it.

"I thought it would be more appropriate to go up a stage and to have, for example, 20 nicer houses but who's going to listen me?

"My main gripe is to get the houses to blend more with Andover Down than Picket Twenty."

He jokingly added: "It's a bit cruel to bring in another 99 homes just after the 520 homes were approved!"

Andover Town Council's planning committee is due to discuss the application on Monday.