New Forest National Park Authority approves plans for commoners' home in Hale despite concerns from parish councils

A COUPLE of commoners have won permission from the national park authority to build a new home in the New Forest amid spiralling rental charges.

Mr and Mrs Mansbridge applied to build a two-storey house with barns, stables and a manege on a 2.3-hectare field adjacent to Warren Copse in Woodgreen.

The application prompted 100 letters of support from locals.

It also won the backing of the Commoners Defence Association which has long warned about the threat from a lack of affordable properties.

However, Woodgreen and Hale parish councils opposed the plans, along with 14 residents who lodged objections with the NPA.

Concerns had been raised over the visual impact from across the valley and “irreversible damage” to the Forest.

Hale councillors also argued the plans constituted an overdevelopment of the site, and claimed the proposed house would adversely affect nearby environmentally sensitive areas.

A report to the NPA’s planning committee, which advised approval, said Mr Mansbridge had been commoning since he was a child.

The family currently turns out 17 ponies in the south of the Forest but decided to build a property after rental charges became unsustainable.

The report added: "House prices are too high to enable the applicants to buy a suitable property, and unless they are able to establish another property for their commoning enterprise there is a risk they will need to cease commoning completely."

Supporting the plans was NPA member Richard Taylor who said: "Commoning is an integral part of our purpose in terms of shaping the landscape, and commoning has shaped and supported this landscape over many hundreds of years.

"I think this has got to be borne in mind and it is very clearly stated in our objectives as an authority. I think this passes the test for our commoner's dwelling scheme."

NPA member David Harrison also supported the plans and said: "We know as an authority it is very difficult in the New Forest to provide housing for commoners.

"The cost of not doing that will have major impacts in the future.

"I think by supporting commoning we have an opportunity to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the park."