A housebuilder is keen to lay down the groundwork on a new estate in Horndean as a competitor looks to swell its numbers south of the village.

Thakeham is ready to start work on a new 109-home estate between Catherington Lane, Five Heads Road and The Bridle Path.

Approval was granted in January by East Hampshire District Council pending conditions but officers are now happy for work to begin.

And the housebuilder insists the development will go a long way to meeting local needs with 44 of the 109 homes being affordable.

“A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken for this development, with a high level of public interest and engagement in our proposals,” said Tristan Robinson, the firm’s director of external affairs.

“So naturally we’re pleased that EHDC has approved our plans and granted us planning permission.

“There were nearly 1,600 households on the housing waiting list across East Hampshire between 2022 and 2023, reflecting the clear requirement for additional housing across the district.

“This (Land East of Catherington Lane) development will help to address this need by delivering much needed sustainable new homes.”

Thakeham, which also has approval to build 54 homes in Petersfield to the west and south of The Causeway and Larcombe Road, respectively, says the one to four-bedroom homes will be “zero carbon ready.”

“Each home is expected to feature an air source heat pump, dedicated electric vehicle charger and PV solar panels to reduce its carbon emissions well beyond the requirements of building regulations,” said a spokesperson for the firm.

The north part of the site will remain open space with 17.9 acres being landscaped for leisure and recreation in a move that’s been welcomed.

But members of the same committee that approved the application early this year have also raised concerns about the “cumulative” impact of development around the Horndean and Catherington area.

Plans for 38 homes north of Chalk Hill Road were also recently approved, with both villagers and councillors raising fears about the rise in traffic on the narrow, twisty and semi-rural Five Heads Road.

Meanwhile, a district and parish councillor wonders if boundaries may have to be withdrawn as plans to add a further 100 homes to one of the biggest developments in East Hampshire have been submitted.

Having already granted permission to build 700 dwellings, Bloor Homes has now made an outline application to increase the numbers of the East Land of Horndean (LEOH) development.

But if approved, the 100 homes earmarked for the southern fringes of the site north of Havant Thicket will be in the parish of Rowlands Castle.

Cllr David Evans is sure the parish boundary will “need to be changed” because the development will be part of Horndean – but residents living in the strip will pay a precept to Rowlands Castle Parish Council, and not their Horndean counterparts.

He said: “Residents would look to Horndean PC for most of their services yet Rowlands Castle Parish Councillors will represent people living in Horndean – not a recipe for good governance.”