VILLAGERS who are trying to sell playing fields to a developer want houses built on the site.

Marcham’s Community Facilities Steering Group now says it wants to redevelop the historic Anson Institue for housing and build up to 10 houses on the Anson Field.

The group would use the money made from the sale of the land to provide better sport and recreation facilities for the village.

Members presented their plans to about 100 residents at a meeting in the village led by the Anson Trust.

They told villagers that the more money they can raise from the sale, the fewer houses need to be built on the field, and it could be as few as two.

The plans would also see the village’s sports pitches “reconfigured” and new space created for a village hall and nursery on the field.

In a statement, the group said: “Altogether the response was positive and supportive towards these proposals.

“We will see more detail of the proposed plans later this summer.”

The plans come after the Anson Trust had to abandon a proposal to sell the field to housing developer Taylor Wimpey and build a £2m community centre.

When they applied to Vale of White Horse District Council for planning permission for the new community hub in 2013, landowner John Duffield objected.

The community facilities steering group is made up of Marcham Parish Council, Marcham Community Group, Marcham Parochial Church Council, Marcham Baptist Church, Marcham Scouts, Sports and Social Club and the Anson Trust.