THIS is the vision for more than 1,000 new homes on the outskirts of a Hampshire town.

Ambitious plans to transform the land south of Eastleigh into a huge new development have been handed in to the borough council.

If approved, the £70m North Stoneham Park complex would also boast a new primary school, nursery and care home on the site near to junction five of the M27.

Developer the Highwood Group has handed in a £70m blueprint for the North Stoneham Park after two public exhibitions last year.

Eastleigh Borough Council, which owns the site alongside Highwood and the county council, has earmarked the site south of Chestnut Avenue for housing for several years.

If approved by borough council planners, the development would feature about 1,100 new homes spread across the 62-hectare site.

A new primary school, nursery, community centre, care home, shops and play facilities would also be built, while Lakeside Country Park would be extended.

The plans had proven controversial when revealed last year, with some residents concerned over the impact it would have on traffic.

There were also concerns over the fact some historic park land and playing pitches would be built over, but Highwood Group says it will create a new home for AFC Stoneham on land south of junction five of the M27.

New football, rugby, hockey and other sporting facilities would also be built at Trojans Sports Club in Stoneham Lane as part of a separate planning application.

The developer also says key features of the site, such as Avenue Park and The Shrine, will be “preserved and enhanced to form part of a beautiful landscaped public open space and a green infrastructure that includes footpaths to the new facilities and features that will safeguard the local ecology and the land’s habitats”.

Simon Beech, director at Highwood Group, said: “Highwood is promoting a high-quality development for the area.

“It will combine the character of the landscape and history of the site with innovation and good design to create a sustainable place to live as well as providing much-needed housing – all supported by the necessary infrastructure.”

A decision on the plans is due during the summer, and if the development is approved construction work could begin next year.