DESIGN plans for 300 homes on a North Baddesley development have been given the green light, it has been revealed.

An application was submitted to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to build the homes in Hoe Farm, Hoe Lane.

The proposals, tabled by The Ashfield Partnership, will offer a mix of one and two-bedroom homes, including several three, four and five-bedroom houses.

The plans were approved by Test Valley Borough Council's Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday, June 8.

Following the meeting, councillor Celia Dowden, who represents North Baddesley on TVBC, said it was crucial that construction lorries will use the A3057 at Ashfield to access the development to avoid driving through residential areas.

Ms Dowden explained: "We queried and made sure that the arrangement for construction vehicles is they have to enter from the A3057, and not go through Rownhams Lane where residential areas are.

"We also asked that when construction has finished that a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes is put at each end of Hoe Lane to prevent lorries using it as a cut-through.

"There has been a lot of thought that has gone into this and I think people will be happily surprised when they see what will be developed there, because it is a lovely site. How could it not be when it is surrounded by fields?"

She added the committee disagreed with Hampshire police's objection to the plans, after the force feared anti-social behaviour could rise in part of the development if groups gather behind some homes.

She said: "The issue that the crime officer had was actually about boundary treatment, which allows easy access to around six out of 300 houses.

"But, because the houses border a pathway it would have meant completely reorganising the plan and would have changed the whole open outlook of the estate."

Councillor Alan Dowden, who represents Valley Park on TVBC, added he believes the development is an achievement councillors can be proud of following negotiations with The Ashfield Partnership.

He said: "We are very pleased with the outcome and we wanted to have a development that everybody could be proud of in the end, and I think we have achieved that.

"I am sure in the long term people will be pleased with it."