A GOVERNMENT examiner is insisting that farm land in Petersfield should take up to 200 new houses.

Examiner Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC says that as other potential housing sites may not become available, 200 houses must be built at Causeway Farm.

His findings are included in a study report of the draft Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan, which must outline where about 700 homes can be built in the town.

David Wilson Homes, a Barratt Homes subsidiary, is preparing a 159-home planning application for the land, but the examiner says more should be built there.

This is because the Hampshire County Council road depot off Borough Road isn’t available to build on anymore. The 42 houses proposed for the depot site must be built on Causeway Farm Mr Lockhart-Mummery stated. He also said more land at Causeway Farm should be earmarked for housing in the future.

Plan spokesman and Petersfield town councillor Jamie Matthews said: “We are disappointed the depot is not available, and about The Causeway site increase.”

The Causeway ‘must’ is one of a few minor changes to the draft plan the examiner wants made. In the main, he says, it is fit for purpose.

Mr Matthews said: “We are celebrating a major milestone in the creation of a 15-year plan that will help shape development in Petersfield.”

Also in his report, Mr Lockhart-Mummery rejected proposals to build on the Petersfield/Buriton boundary, on fields between Woods Meadow and the A3, and on land at Penns Place earmarked for football pitches.

The South Downs National Park Authority’s planning committee is to look at the draft plan as changed by the examiner to decide whether to approve it.

Mr Matthews said: “If the changes are agreed, a referendum on adopting it will be held, hopefully in October.”

Only people living within the Petersfield town boundary will be eligible to vote in the referendum.

Chairman of the plan steering group and Petersfield resident Richard Besant said: “We have been engaging with the community about the plan for nearly three years and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to its development.”