Residents call designs for new Warsash estate as '˜prison like'

Glenda Edmondson points to her bungalow on the aerial which is opposite the proposed site for homes with Michael Ford who lives in the same road Picture: Sarah Standing (160732-9770)

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey unveiled its designs for the new homes on land east of Brook Lane to more than 100 residents at a public exhibition at the Genesis Centre in Centre Way, Locks Heath.

Concerns were raised about the look of the development, which will border the Strawberry Fields development in Locks Heath on land off Peters Road with Brook Lane, with resident Michael Ford calling it ‘prison-like’.

Mr Ford, 68, said: ‘The site is too similar to the Strawberry Fields development, which concerns me as it seems prison-like.’

‘It’s too boxed-in and looks more like a dormitory rather than an estate.’

The developer is expecting to put an outline planning application into Fareham Borough Council next month.

The site is not allocated in the council’s development plan up until 2036.

Councillor Keith Evans said: ‘We have made it clear that we will not allow developments that are in the borough’s countryside.’

The new estate’s main access route will be via Brook Lane which is a pinch point in the area for traffic.

A total of 160 parking spaces are set to be provided for the development.

The Warsash Residents Association met at Warsash Victory Hall in Warsash Road on Wednesday night ahead of the exhibition.

Vic Styles, 73 of the Warsash Residents’ Association,said: ‘Traffic is bulging along Brook Lane at peak times. This development will only make it worse.’

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: ‘We were really pleased with the turnout.

‘We had some very  useful discussions with local residents and will now  look carefully at the comments.’