TWO major planning applications submitted to Test Valley Borough Council are seeking to build more than 3,500 homes in Andover.

The outline applications, if granted, would meet the town's status as one of Hampshire's Major Develo-pment Areas (MDA) up to and beyond 2011.

As an MDA Andover is required to build 3,000 new homes by 2011, although the draft Local Plan - currently the subject of a public inquiry - only allows for 2,400 on greenfield sites because some of the homes have already been built.

Westbury Homes has applied for 700 homes to be built at Picket Twenty between 2007 and 2011 in the first phase with a further 500 homes on the same site after 2011.

Wimpey Homes, meanwhile, has applied for a total of 2,500 homes on a site identified in the draft Local Plan at Icknield Way.

At Andover Councillors' Forum on Monday Westbury Homes gave a presentation of its plan to councillors and the public.

Planning consultant Richard Shaw said: "Our aim has been to create a flagship for future development in Andover and the rest of Test Valley. It will be a sustainable development committed to design quality."

Included in the application is a primary school as well as a community centre, health centre, pub, convenience store, children's nursery, urban park, sports pitches and pavilion, new woodland planting, children's play facilities and a nine-hole golf course.

Mr Shaw said: "The development will encourage people to walk or cycle or use a public transport service, which will be subsidised in the early stages by Westbury." There will be new pedestrian and cycle routes

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