OPINION remains divided over plans to build six new homes on “underused garden land” in a residential Overton street.

As reported in the Advertiser the proposals were lodged with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council last year and validated in January.

They outline plans to build four three-bed and two four-bed homes – plus associated parking – on land at the rear of three properties in Dellands, Overton.

So far the application has garnered 14 responses from residents, 10 of which oppose the plans with four in support.

However of those four in support, three are related to people living in the property earmarked for development, while another is a neighbour.

The parish council has also raised objections to the proposal, although one commenter, who supports the plans, notes that the chairwoman of the authority is the mother of one of the “principal objectors” to the project.

Arguments in support of the application point to the provision of two parking spaces per planned home and that the development will be registered under the government’s Help to Buy initiative.

Another supporter says this will “not just allow for a growing population, but more importantly to allow people to remain in the village that they grew up in”.

The same commenter notes that the project will “make use of garden space which was otherwise neglected”.

One person says their mother, who lives at one of the affected properties and is recently bereaved, now struggles with the upkeep of the garden, while another adds that their father “has been unable to manage his large garden for some time”.

However, objectors say the development will result in an increase in traffic, an added strain on waste bin collection and potential noise and light pollution.

One commenter added: “My main objection is the shear lunacy in trying to squeeze six properties into a space that is essentially now three normal back gardens, complete overkill in my opinion.”

Others note that it is not clear whether the application is for six or seven homes and raise doubts over the validity of traffic survey, which was carried out almost two years ago in May 2018.

The parish council objects on various grounds but summarise that it would represent an “overdevelopment of the site”.

But one resident, who supports the plans, wrote in response: “It is my understanding that the local parish council is there for the benefit of the whole local parish, not just the residents they are related to.”

To view the application in full go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications and search ‘19/03055/FUL’.