WORK is progressing on a once controversial housing scheme, despite neighbours saying councillors have not kept their promises.

Winchester City Council members were recently shown around Hookpit Farm, in Kings Worthy, also known as the Top Field.

The scheme will provide 35 homes with a range of different housing options including affordable rent and shared ownership.

Contractors Drew Smith have advanced with foundation work and the timber frame construction complete to many of the plots. The scheme is set to be completed in summer 2021.

The council says it is also working with local residents and ward councillors to preserve a much-loved open space called Top Field at Hookpit Farm.

Ecological preservation work is being carried out with over 100 slow worms already relocated on the site for protection and public consultations have been held by the Natural Environment and Recreation Team which will inform how the area will be left.

Cabinet member for housing and asset management, Cllr Kelsie Learney, said: “It is really exciting to see the progress of this development and I was very impressed with how closely the contractors have been working with the local community during construction. This scheme will help us in our goals to ensure more people can afford to live in well-designed, energy efficient homes and increasing public access to informal open space.”

As previously reported neighbours are calling for answers over promised road changes to improve traffic congestion at the junction of Springvale Road and Hookpit Farm Lane.

Residents say that councillors guaranteed road changes if a petition signed by 364 people was removed to allow the scheme to go ahead, but now the group has been ignored.

One of those is Karen McCleery: “We have written three times to councillors saying ‘please can you tell us what is happening on the corner which you promised’ but nothing is happening.”

It just seems that having made these promises we are now being effectively ignored and the traffic is really bad.

“We have done our side of the bargain.”

The city council said it is monitoring traffic near the Top Field site and a much-wanted lay-by is being considered.

The tour of the Top Field took place in the same week as two new council homes were completed at a separate scheme in Dolphin Hill, Twyford.

The mixture of homes at Hookpit Farm includes 25 affordable rent, eight shared ownership and two discounted market sales. To find out more about shared ownership homes at the site email kdowling@winchester.gov.uk