A BID to build more than 350 homes on Hampshire countryside has been made by developers.

Land in Valley Park has been earmarked for the development which if approved would see 365 homes built along with a shop and play areas.

The new estate is proposed for Thorn Hill, a site which sits off Flexford Road between Chandler's Ford and North Baddesley.

The application for outline planning permission for the new estate has been submitted by Gladman Developments Ltd (GDL)to the authority for their consideration.

The move has been roundly criticised by local residents and councillors.

One resident, who was not named, said: "This area has had a vast amount of housing in recent years and does not need any more.

The number of houses is far too small for such a small space, they will only be able to fit for sardines."

Others raised concerns about the increased traffic onto Flexford Road which would be the main access point to the new development, according to the plans.

Residents Judith Sheppard said that the road was "too narrow" and there was already too many vehicles using the road to accommodate extra traffic.

Dr Hugh Shepherd said in response to the consultation: "The proposal is a direct challenge to the recently adopted local plan and would contravene the maintenance of a local gap."

The proposed site forms part of the 'green' gap between the two parishes and therefore has not been identified in the Test Valley Borough Council local plan as suitable for development.

The local plan document sets out areas deemed suitable for development in the future, but TVBC's plan is currently subject to a legal challenge by the Barker Mills organisation.

As previously reported Barker Mills, which has had two appeals thrown out over their bid to build a giant business complex in Nursling, has gone to the High Court claiming the plan is flawed and was not properly researched.

As part of the consultation GDL also canvassed the opinions of local parish councils who declined the offer of a meeting, claiming it would be inappropriate for councillors to meet them ahead of any formal application.

Cllr Alan Dowden of Valley Park Parish Council said: "We strongly advised them to engage in the pre application advice service offered by Test Valley Borough Council, which I understand they did not take advantage of and submitted the application anyway."

GDL declined to comment about the application to the Romsey Advertiser but in presenting their case for the development to planners said that they had engaged with the council prior to the application but had not undergone the formal pre-application process.

They said that in their view there was a need for housing in the area. "In order to deliver the level of housing required across the borough, Valley Park will be required to accommodate additional growth and it is inevitable that this will have to be sited outside of the village boundary resulting in some loss of open countryside/agricultural land."

They said following the consultation, they had reduced the number of proposed homes, and that the development, which would be made up of 40 per cent affordable housing, would also enhance existing wetland on the site.