HOUSING developers who have been hoping to build on the controversial Kingsfernsden Lane site in Petersfield for the past three years have finally submitted new plans this week.
But Bryant HomesÕ latest proposals have squeezed 80 more homes on to the site, which has been under the planning microscope for the past 18 months.
The developers are now asking for the go-ahead to build a total of 275 houses there.
Bryant Homes wanted to build 195 houses on the site north of Ramshill in March 2000.
But they were forced to withdraw their plans when the government came up with new guidelines which called for a higher density of housing.
In May, Helen Dunstan, managing director of Bryant Homes, appointed an urban designer to look at the plans.
Bryant Homes were already believed to be more than 12 months behind with their plans at the start of 2000.
Planning officers at East Hampshire District Council said they had been talking to the developers for around a year before the plan was finally submitted this week.
Bryant Homes want permission to build 275 homes with garages and parking. They want to demolish houses at 44 and 46 Ramshill to make an entrance to the new development.
Planning officer Julia Mansi told The Herald the plan involved a mix of homes but the majority had two or three bedrooms.
She said the density of housing at the site in the latest proposal was 37 per hectare, which was within the government guidelines of a minimum of 30 houses to the hectare.
The plan includes the building of 81 affordable houses.
Mrs Mansi said it was likely that members of the south planning committee would want to visit the site before making their decision on the planning application.
At one time it was believed that Bryant Homes was hoping to buy the former Diametric factory on Ramshill as part of their housing site.
The factory was taken over by Tooling Products when Diametric went into liquidation in l999. But it would appear that Bryant did not have the option to buy.