A PLAYING field in Alderbury will be turned into a housing development for 50 homes if plans get the goahead.

Longford Estates has submitted an outline application for the site next to Junction Road, currently used as football pitches by Alderbury Football Club.

Early indications show the development on the land which is owned by the Earl of Radnor will comprise 13 two-bed houses, 22 three-bed houses and 15 houses of four-bedrooms or more.

It will include six "intermediate" homes for shared ownership or low cost market housing and three social housing homes.

The plans for the eight-acre site include the creation of 118 parking spaces, a new preschool building within the grounds of the village primary school and the provision of land to extend the school playing fields.

The football club is relocating to land next to the proposed development with the applicant granting the club a 30-year lease on a peppercorn rent.

A wooden hut on the site, used by the club and a guide group, will also be relocated.

The application involves widening the road to allow for on-street parking, the installation of traffic calming measures next to the school and the dual use of the football club car park for the school and other community facilities.

While residents in the village support the provision of affordable homes, some are concerned over Firs Road being used as the access route to the development as it becomes "very busy" at school times.

In a letter to the council Graham White said: "The situation is getting worse year on year. If the entrance were from Junction Road then the area around the school would not be affected by an increase in traffic and there would be less danger to pedestrians."

A consultation on the plans runs until June 15. The target date for a decision is August 11.

The planning application number is 17/04001/OUT.