VILLAGERS are set to revive an old campaign after plans to build 90 homes in Otterbourne were resubmitted.

Development company Gladman first sought permission in August 2016, but withdrew the application in May 2017 after a long battle with residents, who filed a total of 315 objections.

Now, the firm has approached Winchester City Council with almost identical plans for the field behind The Old Forge pub in Main Road.

One of the critics of the new scheme is city council environment chief councillor Jan Warwick. Cllr Warwick said: “No one is quite sure where this has come from. Perhaps they feel they have some leverage this time. The 2016 application said about providing ‘up to 40% affordable housing’, but this time promises the exact figure.

“It seems strange that Gladman did not appeal the last one. It could be because they saw a similar situation in Colden Common, and felt that the costs of an appeal were not worth it.

Cllr Warwick also confirmed that the application is outside the requirements of Winchester’s Local Plan, and said it is “unlikely to be accepted” by planning officers.

She added: “I know residents have concerns about medical and schooling issues. Kings’ Barton is a model development and justified building a medical centre. I don’t think 90 homes will be big enough for something like that.”

The proposed location sits outside of the village’s settlement boundary, which was used to protest the plans when they were first made more than two years ago.

Fears around the plans saw aournd120 residents attended an Otterbourne Parish Council meeting on Monday. Acting chairman Cllr David Stirrup said: “The show of hands at the end of the meeting proved unanimous support to not build the homes.

“The local school reached maximum capacity two years ago. There are concerns about access to the site, and the land is currently meadowland which drains water well as it isn’t particularly compact. Building will, of course, change that.

“We need more affordable housing, but not in one big block.”

In 2016, villagers formed the Save Otterbourne action group. Carol Hawkins, of the group, told the Chronicle: “We haven’t been given much time to get together this time.

“Lots of people are panicking that Gladman have some kind of secret weapon this time, suggesting that’s why they have come back so quick.”

She added: “Also, when the M3 is being upgraded to a Smart Motorway, these houses would be being built at the same time. The traffic would be unspeakably bad.”

So far the city council has received over 50 official objections.

Gladman has not responded to a request for comment.