PLANS have been unveiled by a developer to build almost 100 new homes, a village hall and a playground on farmland.

Initial details of the proposed redevelopment of the land at St John’s Farm in Stuckton Road, Fordingbridge, have been submitted to New Forest District Council’s planning department.

At present, the ground is used for grazing animals but could be turned into a new neighbourhood just off the A338. The site is located around half a mile from Fordingbridge town centre.

The proposals from Mr and Mrs Weldon, outline a scheme of 78 homes and 20 retirement flats as well as a village hall, playground and new access.

The plan is at the pre-application stage with the applicants seeking a screening opinion for advice from the council on if an environment impact assessment is a necessity.

A screening request document, submitted by Dorset firm Planning Base Ltd on behalf of the applicants, says: “The submission of an outline planning application on this site for 98 dwellings is imminent.

“The north of the site will contain 20 retirement units and a village hall and playground – giving occupants the safest and easiest pedestrian access to the town centre.

“The remainder of the site will contain 78 dwellings with a mix of types and sizes ranging from flats, terraced housing, semi-detached and detached dwellings.

“There will be on-site affordable dwellings and the precise amount is to be set out within the outline planning application documents.”

Planning Base Ltd say that, based on planning policy and guidelines, an environment impact assessment is not required.

The council is due to give its verdict at some point this month.

Fordingbridge is an area of the New Forest earmarked for a series of major developments across three sites, according to the local authority’s draft Local Plan is currently under consultation.

The document features an allocation of 820 new properties on areas in and around the town.