THERE'S been a mixed reaction to a revised scheme to transform Strong's former Romsey brewery site into a modern 206-home development.

Romsey Town Council is objecting to Stanborough Developments ambitious project on the site which runs alongside Station Road and at the rear of homes in Princes Road.

They say the proposed number of car parking spaces is 'wholly' inadequate and committee members have also expressed concerns about access for emergency service vehicles and dustcarts.

Dorset-based Stanborough's package to revitalise the rundown 3.46-hectare site includes 104 one and two-bedroom apartments, 74 two to five-bedroom homes and 28 affordable properties. Work has already started on converting the old malt house into 44 flats.

Town councillors also made it clear they would like to see the affordable housing scattered around the site rather than "clustered" at its northern edge.

Members also claim some of the proposed development would have a detrimental impact on properties bordering the site.

But, on the plus side, the council broadly welcomed the latest design standards of development, compared with previous applications.

Head of the town council's planning committee Mark Cooper said: "The application is shoe-horned on to the site, resulting in some unfortunate pinch-points around the edges and impact on existing local residents that need resolving before the application is considered by Test Valley Borough Council."

Borough planning officer Liz Walker said it would be April or May before the council's southern area planning committee considered the scheme.

Stanborough's plans went on show to the public at Romsey Forum's meeting on Wednesday evening. The plans were broadly welcomed by Romsey and District Society and its members considered the scheme to be a big improvement on previous plans to redevelop the old brewery.