MORE housing is destined for Romsey's Fishlake Meadows estate.

Up to 60 new homes could be built on the Hampshire County Council-owned site alongside Canal Walk.

These could include social housing and flats. Two storey semi-detached houses will adjoin Witty Close, which it is intended to reflect the character of housing in central Romsey.

County officials have now produced a draft development brief for the area and housing is included on two-thirds of the 2.1-hectare (5.2-acres) site. Residents will be able to look over the plans at an exhibition in the town's old magistrates' court tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am and 4pm.

Council officers will be on hand to answer questions and visitors will be able to fill in comment forms and place them in a box provided by the authority. Alternately the forms can be returned directly to Hampshire County Council by Friday March 4th.

All comments will be considered individually and where appropriate, included in the final brief.

Hampshire is at an early stage in the disposal of the land and authority's design team has drawn up the draft brief to ensure that the land is developed to a high standard. The brief takes into account the findings of a public consultation in 1998 to determine the preferred layout of the housing.

This will include a LEAP (Local Equipped Area for Play) and a "kick-about" area for older children.

A developer will be sought and their designs will have to fit in with the development brief, say the county council.

The sale of the land is subject to the developer obtaining planning permission from the borough council. Residents will also be able to make representations at the time.

County council leader, Ken Thornber, said: "This approach ensures that surplus land is developed to the highest quality and that local people can comment."

Test Valley planning chiefs were looking at a lower density of housing in an earlier development brief for the Cupernham area which covers the site.