RESIDENTS are fighting again to stop 14 homes being built in a historic corner of Winchester.

St John's Action Group has battled since 2007 to preserve the field at St John's Croft off Blue Ball Hill.

While residents accept that it will probably be built on eventually, they believe the current plans are not good enough.

Yet Savills - agents for Sarum Developments, which is behind the project - says it has altered the scheme after the first one was refused.

Several have commented on the plans already, including members of St John's Action Group, which was formed when the idea surfaced.

It opposed the first plan, arguing that the buildings were too large for the site, which is inside Winchester's conservation area.

Group spokesman, David Battye, said: "As the new development is fundamentally the same as that originally submitted, it fails on the same counts.

"Naturally we will object to this proposal, not because we object to development but because we object to this over-development."

He added: "We trust that the city councillors will see that the same issues arise and rejection of this proposal will happen.

"It will be a long journey, but in time we look forward to a sympathetic architectural solution being put on the table."

Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, Steve Brine, has campaigned with the residents.

He said: "Any development in a conservation area such as Blue Ball Hill should positively enhance it and this plan will not do that.

"It was wrong last time in terms of density, character and its likely impact on those already living in the immediate area and I cannot see what has changed."

Savills said it altered its design after a Government planning inspector rejected the first scheme.

Stuart Garnett from Savills said: "We were obviously disappointed that the inspector refused the original plan, but it was only turned down on one thing and that was the impact on properties in St Martin's Close."

As a result, the firm has moved the proposed homes further away from St Martin's Close and removed several overlooking windows.

Winchester City Council is expected to make a decision within a few weeks.