Developer AJC Group appeal against refusal to demolish house and build 25 new homes

An appeal against the refusal of a bid to demolish a house in Dibden Purlieu and replace it with 24 homes has been submitted by developers.

New Forest District Council ruled against the scheme by AJC Group for land at Orchard Gate in Noads Way, which had attracted nearly 200 objections.

The plans for 17 three-bedroom houses, along with a mixture of two and four-bed properties, were thrown out on the grounds they constituted overdevelopment and would impact on "highway and pedestrian safety".

NFDC also said the applicants had failed to demonstrate surface water drainage would not result in flooding.

The dominance of car parking was also highlighted, along with the size of the proposed plots and the lack of recreation space and landscaping.

“This fails to respect the spacious Sylvan character of the prevailing pattern of development in the area or deliver a well-planned high quality design that would contribute positively to the local distinctiveness,” said the authority.

Nearby residents agreed, with one saying: “Creating a small estate crammed with terraced and semi-detached houses, with limited useable parking, in the middle of this prestigious road would be a travesty.”

The appeal will now be heard at a public inquiry.