A DEVELOPMENT for more than 400 houses in Ludgershall has been green lit by the council.

Lovell is now able to begin construction of its 412 house development on the former Defence Medical Equipment Depot, now known as Drummond Park.

The housebuilder was given the contract to build the £100m scheme by Homes England in March 2020.

Now that the contracts are tied, construction on the first house is due to start this month with the development set to be completed in early 2027.

The first open-market property will be available for sale in January 2022.

READ MORE: Couple wins planning bid to build five-bedroom house

James Duffett, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We are delighted to be working with Homes England and Stonewater to deliver this well-anticipated development, where we will be providing a variety of excellent quality new homes for house-hunters on all stages of the property ladder.”

Lydia Meeson, senior planning and enabling manager at Homes England, said: “As partners we’ve worked collaboratively to ensure that the investment into the site is translated into a deliverable commitment to high quality homes for a variety of people and I look forward to seeing the development fill with life in the years to come.”

The development will be made up of 309 three and four-bedroom houses for sale on the open market with 103 properties for housing provider Stonewater.

Lovell and Stonewater are also considering how to use waste from the site to create public art and communal benches for Drummond Park.

“We’re pleased that Lovell shares our aspirations to provide homes that are comfortable, energy efficient and affordable for people to live in,” said Matt Crucefix, director of development (south and west) at Stonewater.

READ MORE: Two roads to close later this month for fibre optic works

“Providing much-needed affordable homes is at the heart of everything we do, but a core focus for us is also ensuring that we create thriving communities for now and generations to come.

"To support our sustainability commitments, these homes will be built to meet future energy needs and will benefit from the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps.

“Drummond Park is our first development working in partnership with Lovell and we’re excited for work to get underway in the coming months.”

Both Tidworth and Ludgershall parish councils offered no objections to the plans.

Alex Edmunds, who objected to the plans said: “Possible negative impact to the mains water supply pressure.

READ MORE: Superbly named gritter fleet ready to keep roads safe as temperatures drop

“Lack of street lighting in and around St James Street for pedestrians walking into the town centre from the development.

“Increased street light pollution to the surrounding countryside.”

They also asked what would be done to be done for sewage treatment for the development and if there would be a footpath to access the nearby secondary school.

As part of the Section 106 funds, the developer is paying £4.3m into services for the community including the build of a new primary school, the expansion of Wellington Academy, local bus services, highways, and recycling facilities.