A REVISED plan to dramatically reduce the number of proposed new dwellings on a hillside site from 23 to nine has been met with a verdict of ‘no objection’ by Alton Town Council.

The original proposal, on behalf of the land owners, to build 23 new homes on a former chalk pit at 60 to 86 Wilsom Road attracted fierce local objection. It was considered “too cramped” and “too urban” for its gateway location.

Brought back now in outline form, this revised application, via Voller Urban Designs, seeks to build nine new dwellings on the larger northern area of the 1.98 acre site, allocated for residential development in Alton’s Neighbourhood Plan.

The new application has attracted 13 letters of objection from local residents, still concerned about the impact of such a development at the gateway to the town, over access and the generation of additional traffic onto Wilsom Road.

A key concern is that the nine dwellings will only take up part of the site, leaving the remaining land open to further development.