HOPES that the discovery of Iron Age remains on fields at Cadnam Farm in Alton may halt development have been smashed after confirmation by Martin Grant Homes and Persimmon that they will have no impact on the overall timeline.

The work is said to be a routine archaeological survey, carried out in agreement with Hampshire County Council’s archaeologist, and that any items of interest found will be carefully removed and recorded. They may in time find their way back to Alton.

The excavations are said to have revealed the remains of pottery and the faint footprint of dwellings, as well as holding areas for animals and outline drainage ditches, revealing evidence of an Iron Age settlement on the hillside which would have been home to people living in the Alton area around 2,000 years ago.

But while described as being “of interest” in terms of documenting the area’s history, it is not a significant find in archaeological terms, being one of 500 to 600 sites per year to reveal evidence of a past life under the scrutiny of pre-development surveys.

The key thing is that it is documented before being built over.

It will be disappointing news for Alton Eastbrooke and Wooteys Residents Association, which has invited the developers of the Upper Anstey Lane site to their next meeting next Thursday, March 3, to explain how the find may affect future development.

Outline permission was granted in May last year for the construction of up to 275 dwellings on land at Cadnam Farm – a site which is due to be developed in two parts, by Persimmon to the east and Martin Grant Homes to the west.

Alarm bells rang for residents after diggers moved onto the site, prior to the developers obtaining full permission from East Hampshire planners over the detail of the development.

Residents’ association planning sub-committee chairman John Grace said: “Such was the scale of the earth movements residents feared the worst, that building work had started even before full permission had been granted by the planning authority (East Hampshire District Council).

“Some residents approached the people in high-visibility jackets on the site and asked them directly. As it turned out, the work is archaeological and they were told that Iron Age remains had been found. How interesting is that? Iron Age homes in Alton!”

Mistrustful, following this latest scare, that the developers will not have the best interests of the community at heart when it comes to developing the site, Mr Grace is urging the companies to engage with residents to help them understand the timeline and work with them to ease the impact of introducing 275 new households into the area.

And to give people an assurance that they will not be dismissed as easily as their Iron Age ancestors.