LAND alongside the A3 Petersfield by-pass could be opened up for self-build housing and business units if a “complex” draft plan is given the green light.

An outline planning application to create a mixed-used development between The Great Oak and Buckmore Cottage has been submitted to the South Downs National Park Authority.

The proposals by Gentian Developments include a business site, comprising of 4,730 square metres of employment floorspace, on land north of Buckmore Farm.

A residential development of up to 91 dwellings has been earmarked for land further north with open land separating both sites from each other and Buckmore Avenue housing to the east.

The final sizes, positions and designs of the business or residential units have not been drawn up as the proposals are in draft form and only a guide.

But the key thing the application will address is access according to Councillor Jamie Matthews, as concerns remain about the siting and suitability of a new junction on Winchester Road.

He said: “Although the application has some pretty nice drawings it’s only really establishing the principle of development and access.

“Once that principle has been established they can go in with a detailed application.

“This has actually been around for some time and they’ve been doing surveys on it for a while. It’s really to consider access arrangements for the site.”

Concerns about the impact the development, coupled with the eventual construction of Pikes Peak between Stoneham Park and Winchester Road services, will have on traffic have already been made by residents.

“If cars are trying to turn right on to Winchester Road from the proposed access road, it could take them quite a long time to find a pause in the traffic,” states one letter of objection.

“On top of this, during rush/school hour, if the railway crossing (gate) goes down, there is already a line of traffic lining up well past the roundabout and along Winchester Road.

“With the additional traffic coming from the proposed access road, this would only make matters worse.”

The plot south of Buckmore Cottage is one of two in the town listed in the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan (PNP) for self or custom built housing with the other being north of Reservoir Lane.

“In the PNP there is quite a detailed section on the particulars that are mandatory for the site,” added Cllr Matthews. “The important thing about this and what makes this site different is that it’s allocated for self-build housing.”

For more details or to comment on the application type 06292 after following the search link at: www.southdowns.gov.uk/plan ning