Several Southampton residents have written to the Department of Planning complaining about permission to build 33 new homes on St. Anne's Road.

Somers Villas already has seven new homes, which was phase one of The Hamptons Limited development.

Kevin Petty, the owner of The Hamptons Limited, is seeking an in-principle decision from the Department of Planning for phase two and three of the project.

This involves nine detached homes and 24 town houses, bringing the total number of houses on the property up to 40.

The residents of Southdown Farm, Buggy Whip Hill, St. Anne's Road, Prism Heights and Orchard Drive have argued that to add an extra 33 houses would create a situation of high density housing, and that the new properties would not be in keeping with the properties in the surrounding area.

They have also pointed out that the whole area west of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is woodland and a development nearby would overwhelm the remaining land, which has been designated as agricultural and woodland reserve.

The residents also said that the lighthouse is one of the eldest in the Western hemisphere and it, and the surrounding area, should be protected from over development.

They also said tourists come to the lighthouse because of the great views offered and Somers Villas would destroy the view to the west of it.

They also complained of dust and noise pollution during and after development, and the potential effect on the water table because of cesspits draining down into their wells.

One resident wrote: "I personally appreciate how peaceful it is here, there is just too much building going on."

Conservation zoned land that is not being built on is classed woodland reserve and agricultural.

The land that The Hamptons proposes to use is classed as woodland, which can be built on.

The existing coverage is 14,294 square feet, which representing three percent of the total land space, the proposed coverage will be an additional 32,566 square feet which is six percent, which brings the total coverage to 46,860 square feet representing nine percent of the total of 550,365 square feet.

They received the building permit for the seven three-bedroom dwellings in December 1999.

The total floor space for the project will be 65,500 square feet.

The proposed floor space is 49,170 square feet and the current floor space is 16,330 square feet.

The 24 town houses will have two bedrooms each and eight of the nine detached homes will have three bedrooms and the ninth will be a four-bedroom property.