Objections have been submitted for plans to have a road which could serve hundreds of new houses on fields next to a housing estate.

The plan, submitted by Barratt David Wilson Homes, is for a retrospective application for an access road to serve the adjacent land.

The developer has been building hundreds of new homes at Kings Chase, Ganger Farm.

A previous application had been invalid due to the plan covering some land they could not work on, however the amendment has shown little difference.

Romsey Town Council's planning committee discussed the plan at a meeting on May 26.

A neighbour of the site, David Faria, spoke to the committee about his objection.

READ MORE: Romsey councillors object to plans for new door in town centre

Mr Faria, of Scoreys Crescent, said: “This is a planning application which claims to be necessary to provide vehicle access to farm land only. However, access of that type had been in existence for years.

“It endangers a set of trees with TPOs which takes precedent over any planning application.

“We were advised that the previous application was invalid because it was incorrectly drawn and was on some land they did not own.

“The drawings attached to the new application are very similar if not identical which has confused the matter.

“The application involves excavation of the root protection area of mature oak trees and insulation of a drainage system.

“Some of the work has already been done. As residents, policing what is going on at the land in front of us has been an understandably stress.”

Cllr Mark Cooper said: “Trees have a mycorrhizal connection in the ground. If you start to interfere with root systems, the trees' health will be significantly impacted.”

Chairman Cllr John Parker said: “We are strongly objecting on the grounds of the work already done has already damaged the trees and the planning application would further damage the health of the TPO trees.”

In a comment submitted to Test Valley Borough Council, its ecology team said: “Given the proximity to trees and the planning history of the site, I would advise that an updated ecological assessment of the current proposals is submitted to support the current application.”

To view details of the application online, search 22/01149/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.

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