DEVELOPERS planning to build 200 homes at Causeway Farm in Petersfield must re-submit designs for parts of the proposed estate before the plans will be fully approved.

Last Thursday the South Downs National Park Authority’s planning committee said they wouldn’t decide if Causeway Farm fields should be built on until design details are thrashed out.

But despite their reservations, committee members were clear there was support for the idea of building homes on the farm land.

Although disappointed by the deferment at the meeting, developers David Wilson Homes and Bovis Homes don’t see it as a major set back to the scheme.

David Wilson Southampton head of planning, Stuart Goodwillie, said: “The principle of 200 homes at Causeway Farm was accepted by the committee.

“We will be working hard with national park planning officers to provide the clarification required.”

It is hoped new, detailed plans will be ready for the next committee meeting on May 12 at the South Downs Centre, Midhurst. If the new designs are approved, work on the estate is expected to start soon afterwards.

At last week’s meeting, members of the national park authority said the application, thought to be one of the biggest put forward in a national park, should set a benchmark of excellence for future development in parks that everyone “could be proud of.”

Six members voted to defer a decision, and three voted against. But the deferment of the plans met with a mixed reaction from residents and councillors.

Petersfield Town Council councillor Jamie Matthews said he was pleased, as there was a need to step up in quality.

East Hampshire District Council councillor Ben Bentley, who represents The Causeway, said: “I wanted the plans to be refused and so do the residents in my ward.”

Broadway Park resident Elizabeth Williamson said: “It will just come back and they will build on it.”

Causeway resident Simon Carew said he felt once the details were agreed, the plans would be approved.

Laura Brailey added: “They have been trying to build there for years. We have tried to stop it, but the estate is inevitable.”