MORE than 100 people have signed a petition against a homes plan which they say 'bears no relation' to the original designs exhibited.

Residents across Wantage have hit out at the new plan to redevelop King Alfred's Academy's east site as 150 homes as 'unrecognisable'.

Among the main accusations are that a 5m green 'buffer zone' around the entire estate, separating it from neighbouring gardens, seems to have been cut and replaced by a 6ft-high wooden fence.

Residents have also complained about the resulting loss of privacy, light and green space, the lack of car parking and 'overdevelopment' of the whole site.

Julie Mabberley, manager of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group for sustainable development, said: "This plan bears no relation to the plans submitted with the outline application which took notice of comments received during the early consultation.

"Another example of developers ignoring existing residents."

Gary Madgwick, who lives next to what are currently the east site playing fields, said the estate designers had 'gone back on their promises' to residents.

He added: "Everyone that has seen this has objected to it as it does not follow the outline planning application or the promises made to the local residence of Fyfield Close, Charlton Road and Springfield Road.

"Bovis seem to be doing their own thing and ignoring local issues."

More than 100 people have signed a petition against the new application and 22 households have lodged official objections with the council.

Wantage Town Council has also submitted a lengthy objection, complaining about loss of green space and asking for clarification on whether a children's play area would be created on the site.

Bovis Homes, which is leading the development, won outline permission to build 150 homes on the site last year, but submitted the actual design details to Vale of White Horse District Council in September, calling them 'reserved matters'.

Bovis spokesman Scott Curtis said: "We have consulted with individual neighbours, liaised closely with the local authority and followed strict planning guidelines in finalising the detailed plans for this exciting development."

He said the estate would indeed have a '5m buffer zone' around it which 'incorporated' the gardens of the new homes.

He added: "Other concerns around privacy and light have been addressed with a layout including attractive open spaces and fewer homes on the periphery of the development."

Members of public can see the application at whitehorsedc.gov.uk using reference number P17/V2479/RM.

The Vale has said it will give Bovis a decision by December 19.

King Alfred's Academy is still using east site until the end of the year, when it will hand it over to Bovis and move pupils to west site on Challow Road.